Bats Power Softball to 6-3, 6-0 Sweep of Saint Michael’s

RINDGE, N.H. (April 13, 2016) -- Freshman pitcher Mandi Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) went the distance to pick up her first win of the season in game one of a doubleheader showdown between the Franklin Pierce Ravens and the Saint Michael's Purple Knights at the Bisaccia Softball Complex. Later, the Ravens posted a 6-0 shutout in the second game to complete the doubleheader sweep on Wednesday afternoon.

With the two wins, the Ravens advance to 7-16 (3-8 Northeast-10, 3-8 Northeast Division), while the Purple Knights fall to 3-22 (2-13 Northeast-10, 1-10 Northeast Division).

In the first game, the Ravens fell behind after the first inning, 1-0, when junior right fielder Caroline Staples singled to center field to send her teammate, junior second baseman Christina Brazeau, home. Franklin Pierce would score to tie the game at one in the bottom of the second, after a double to center field by senior catcher Morgan Cahill (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) sent sophomore center fielder Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) home.

After a scoreless third inning, Franklin Pierce would add another run in the bottom of the fourth. A double by senior third basemen Erin Wood (Dover, N.Y.) would drive home senior shortstop Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.) to make the score 2-1.

The Ravens offense came out strong in the bottom of the fifth inning. A double by sophomore left fielder Jill Ostrander (Glens Falls, N.Y.) started the four-run scoring spree for the Ravens. Ostrander stole home to get the first run of the quartet. She was followed by junior Megan Gardiner (Vernon, Conn.), after a throwing error by the Purple Knights, to give Franklin Pierce a 4-1 lead. A single by Wood, followed by a double from Sorenson would send in the next two runs of the inning to give the Ravens a 6-1 lead.

The Purple Knights fought back in the top of the sixth, scoring two more runs on a single by senior first baseman Judi Barcavage and a sacrifice fly by freshman third baseman Payton Witalec, however it was not enough. The Ravens would win their first game in a 6-3 victory.

Adee, earning her first win of the season (1-7), had four strikeouts and allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits throughout the entire game.

Sophomore pitcher Danielle Brown had 10 strikeouts for Saint Michael's, but took the loss (3-11) after allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits over her six innings.

The second game started out a different than the first, with Franklin Pierce striking first. The Ravens opened the scoring on Wood's second double of the day to take an early, 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, Wood's hot hitting would continue, as she hit her third double of the day, sending teammates Caputo and sophomore second baseman Samantha Bonvino (Milford, Mass.) home to give the Ravens a 3-0 lead. Two batters later, Sorenson had a two-run home run to centerfield to give Franklin Pierce a 5-0 lead.

The final run of the second game was driven home by sophomore Abbigael Cook (Greenville, R.I.), as a single to center field sent Ostrander home.

Senior pitcher Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) had a seven-hit shutout and had one strikeout for the day to earn her sixth win of the season (6-3).

Freshman pitcher Molly Feeney had one strikeout for the day and allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits over four innings while taking the loss (0-9) for Saint Michael's.

The Ravens return to the field on Thursday, April 14, when they travel to Saint Anselm for a Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Manchester, N.H.

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).