RINDGE, N.H. (April 18, 2016) – With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, sophomore first baseman Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, Mass.) drove the ball the other way and cleared the fence in right-center field for a walk-off home run, as the Franklin Pierce University softball team completed a come-from-behind, 6-5, eight-inning victory over Southern New Hampshire at Bisaccia Softball Complex. Earlier on Monday afternoon, the Ravens trailed the Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division contest 3-0 in the first and 5-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 12-18 (8-9 Northeast-10, 8-9 Northeast Division), while SNHU falls to 21-11 (13-5 Northeast-10, 12-4 Northeast Division).

Trailing 5-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Ravens boarded the comeback train with three runs in the home half of the inning to forge a 5-5 tie. Senior third baseman Erin Wood (Dover, N.Y.) reached on an error by SNHU senior shortstop Katie Caruso leading off and moved around to third as back-to-back, one-out singles by sophomore right fielder Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) and senior catcher Morgan Cahill (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) loaded the bases. Sophomore left fielder Jill Ostrander (Glens Falls, N.Y.) followed with an RBI single to make it 5-3 and chase the SNHU starting pitcher, sophomore Sarah Lavallee, from the game.

Fellow sophomore Stephanie Martin took over and got Bianco to bounce into a fielder's choice, which saw Cortese erased at the plate for the second out. Freshman designated player Madison Ryan (Dracut, Mass.) was next and came up with an RBI single to pull the Ravens within a run, before sophomore second baseman Samantha Bonvino (Milford, Mass.) worked a bases-loaded walk to drive home the game-tying run. Martin was replaced by junior Nicole Gubellini, who retired senior shortstop Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.) on a ground ball back to the circle to strand the bases loaded.

After the entirety of the seventh and the top of the eighth went scoreless, the Ravens won the game on Bianco's heroics in the bottom half of the eighth. After Ostrander struck out to open the inning, Bianco went the other way for her first collegiate home run, a solo shot to right-center field, to send the Ravens away 6-5 winners in extra innings.

Earlier in the day, SNHU opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the first inning. Senior center fielder Maureen Hannan opened the game with a single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on an RBI single by freshman third baseman Erin Garczynski. Garczynski was erased at second as Caruso reached on a fielder's choice, and the latter scored when Lavallee followed and drove her sixth home run of the season the other way to right field.

Franklin Pierce cut the gap to 3-1 with a run in the bottom of the third. Ryan singled with one out, moved to second on a ground out, went to third on a single by Caputo and scored on an RBI single by Wood.

Another Ravens run in the bottom of the fourth made it a 3-2 game. Cortese led off the inning and drove her third home run of the season, a solo shot to left-center field.

SNHU tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to make it 5-2, ahead of Franklin Pierce's late rally. Junior first baseman Erin Morrissey took a lead-off walk and scored two batters later on the fourth home run of the season for Hannan.

Senior pitcher Mandi Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) started in the circle and threw the first 5.2 innings for the Ravens. She allowed five runs on nine hits, walked two, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and struck out two without factoring in the decision. Freshman Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin, Mass.) did not allow a run or a hit and struck out one over the final 2.1 innings to pick up the win (2-7) in relief.

Lavallee tossed the first 5.1 innings for SNHU and, likewise, did not factor in the decision. She surrendered five runs (two earned) on eight hits, walked one and struck out four. Gubellini (5-6) threw the final 1.2 innings, allowed the one run on two hits and struck out three while taking the loss.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, April 19, when they travel to Saint Michael's for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Doc Jacobs Field in Colchester, Vt.

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).