Softball Swept by Assumption, 4-1 and 10-0

RINDGE, N.H. (March 26, 2016) – After getting rained out on Friday, the Franklin Pierce University softball team played host to Assumption in a Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Bisaccia Softball Complex. Junior second baseman Ashley Abad went 2-for-3 and scored three times in the first game to lead Assumption to a 4-1 win, while the Greyhounds used a nine-run seventh to finish off the sweep with a 10-0 win in the second game.

With the losses, Franklin Pierce falls to 5-10 (1-2 Northeast-10, 1-2 Northeast Division), while Assumption improves to 6-15 (3-6 Northeast-10, 3-2 Northeast Division).

In the first game, Assumption opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. With two outs and nobody on, Abad took a walk and then came all the way around to score when Franklin Pierce sophomore left fielder Jillian Ostrander (Glens Falls, N.Y.) dropped a fly ball hit by Assumption senior shortstop Kayli Moniz.

The Greyhounds made it 2-0 with a run in the top of the second. Sophomore third baseman Nicole Duplease led off with a double to left, moved to third on a flyout and scored on an RBI single into left field by freshman left fielder Caitlin Mirabell.

Assumption stretched the lead to 3-0 with another run in the top of the third inning. With one out and nobody on, Abad turned on a pitch and laced a solo home run, her second of the season, deep down the left-field line.

Franklin Pierce cut the gap to 3-1 with a run in the bottom of the third. Ostrander led off, went the other way and cranked a double into the gap in right-center field. She moved to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI single to left by senior pitcher Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.).

The game would go scoreless through the next three innings, before Assumption created the 4-1 final with a run in the top of the seventh. Junior catcher Cassie Schultz led off with a walk, but was forced out at second base as Abad reached on a fielder's choice. Abad moved to second on a wild pitch, went to third on a groundout and scored when sophomore first baseman Stephanie Menard dumped an RBI single the other way into right field.

Hansen (5-2) went the distance in a losing effort in the circle for Franklin Pierce. She allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits, walked three, threw a wild pitch and struck out six.

Sophomore right-hander Kendal Roy (5-4) took the ball and went the distance for Assumption. She allowed one run on eight hits, did not issue a walk and struck out seven.

The second game went scoreless into the fifth inning, when Assumption broke the ice with a run in the top of the fifth. With one out and the bases empty, senior right fielder Christina Caira went the other way and lined a solo home run, her second of the season, over the fence in straightaway right field.

The Greyhounds broke the game wide open in the top of the seventh by sending 14 batters to the plate and scoring nine times to create the 10-0 final. Mirabell had the inning's biggest blow with a two-run double, while Abad had an RBI double and junior designated player Cassidy Colby tallied an RBI single. Also in the inning, freshman left fielder Julia Mazzeo drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, while both Caira and Duplease drew bases-loaded walks to drive home runs.

Senior right-hander Mandi Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) made the start in the second game for the Ravens. Over 6.1 innings, she was ultimately charged for 10 runs (seven earned) on nine hits, walked three and struck out four while taking the loss (0-4).

Senior right-hander Jess Underwood (1-5) went the distance for Assumption to throw her first shutout of the season. She allowed five hits, walked one and struck out nine.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, March 29, when they remain home to host Assumption in the final game of the season series. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at the Bisaccia Softball Complex.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce softball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).