NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (April 16, 2016) – Senior third basemen Erin Wood (Dover, N.Y.) -- who became the program's all-time home run leader earlier in the week -- hit a solo home run to help lead the Franklin Pierce University softball team to a 3-1 victory over Merrimack College in the first game of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Later in the afternoon, the Ravens faced the Warriors again and suffered a 7-3 defeat.

With the win and the loss, the Ravens record is now 10-17 (6-9 Northeast-10, 6-9 Northeast Division), and the Warriors move to 18-22 (10-10 Northeast-10, 8-8 Northeast Division). The two teams will close out the season series with another doubleheader, also at Merrimack, on Sunday at noon.

In game one, senior pitcher Mandi Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) came out strong, giving up only four hits throughout the game. The score remained tied until the top of the fifth inning. The Ravens offense was sparked after a pair of doubles by sophomore left fielder Jillian Ostrander (Glens Falls, N.Y.) and freshman designated hitter Madison Ryan (Dracut, Mass.). Ryan's double to left-center sent Ostrander to home plate to give the Ravens a 1-0 lead.

The Ravens would score another run in the top of the sixth inning, after an Ostrander hit sent Abbigael Cook (Greenville, R.I.) home. The Ravens now held a 2-0 lead, however the Warriors came to life in the bottom of the sixth. A solo home run by junior pitcher Haley Currie put Merrimack down by only one heading into the seventh inning.

The Ravens would secure the win in the seventh after a solo shot by Wood gave the Ravens a two-run lead, which the Warriors could not overcome.

Adee had a solid game, earning her third win of the season (3-8) after having two strikeouts and only allowing one run on four hits on the day.

Currie gave up eight hits on the day, allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out seven, resulting in her ninth loss of the season (7-9).

The second game began with Merrimack getting an early 1-0 lead, after a single by freshman third basemen Caitlin McBride sent teammate Samantha Waskowitz home. The Warriors would score again in the bottom of the fourth, after a double by sophomore pitcher Megan Cook put them ahead by two. However, moments later, another run would score after an error by senior Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.).

With the Warriors ahead by three, the Ravens got on the board. Wood had her second home run of the day, which would come in the top of the fifth and tie the game at 3-3.

The bottom of the fifth resulted in Merrimack getting an additional four runs, due to a three-run homer by freshman catcher Emily Kurkul, as well as McBride driving in a run while reaching on an error. The Ravens could not overcome the four-run deficit, falling in the second game, 7-3.

Megan Cook, earning her fourth win of the year (4-4), had a four-hit outing, allowing three runs (two earned), and had five strikeouts on the day.

Senior pitcher Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) had two strikeouts and gave up seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits over five innings, on the way to the loss (6-4).

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).