CLERMONT, Fla. (March 16, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team wrapped up their trip down to Florida for Spring Break on Thursday with two losses, the first, a 2-1 decision to West Chester and the second, a 9-1 five inning loss to Northeast-10 Conference opponent Southern Connecticut State Both defeats amounted to the Crimson and Grey's 10th loss of the season.

Game One: Golden Rams 2, Ravens 1 (Final)

Sophomore hurler Abbie Paquette (Biddeford, Maine) took the hill for the first duel of the day and surrendered two runs on eight hits. Junior first basemen Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) went 1-for-3 at the dish with a run scored.

FPU pushed the first run of the ballgame across the plate in the bottom of the third. Two singles from Bianco and junior outfielder Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) set up runners in scoring position at second and third with one down after a passed ball. Teammate Jillian Ostrander (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) plated Bianco on a fielder's choice to move the Ravens ahead 1-0. The next batter, Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) reached first base after being hit by a pitch to load the bases. Golden Rams pitcher Brooke Hamer buckled down by inducing a fly out to left and a foul pop to third that stranded the bases loaded.

The Raven 1-0 advantage lasted until the top of the sixth until two RBI singles by Alyssa Herion and Courtney Stump gave the home squad the lead for good.

Game Two: Owls 9, Ravens 1 (Final – 5 Innings)

Ostrander was 2-for-3 with a run scored from the leadoff spot in game two. Sorenson chipped in a 1-for-3 effort with an RBI. Sophomore catcher Ashley Deyo (Dover, N.H.) contributed a 2-for-2 performance as well. All three hit at the top of the order and were 5-for-7 on the evening.

Southern Connecticut State tallied a run apiece in the first two innings to jump out to an early 2-0 advantage. In the bottom half of the third, the Owls manufactured four runs on an RBI base knock by Heather Jackson, a Lauren Yaffa grounder and a two RBI single to center off the bat of Arianne Tedeschi.

FPU cracked the scoring column in the top of the fifth inning as Ostrander ripped a two bagger to left field. Sorenson followed by depositing a single down the right field line that brought Ostrander in. Deyo, the next batter, walked to put runners at first and second with one down. The next two batters were retired as the Owls held a 6-1 lead.

SCSU won the contest in the bottom half of the fifth as they notched three runs on a single to left and a double to center to run rule the Ravens.

Sophomore second basemen Ashley Mendillo (Milford, Conn.) and first basemen Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) were 1-for-2 each from the seventh and eighth spot in the lineup.  

The Ravens remain off for the remainder of the weekend and open up NE10 play on Wednesday, March 22nd with a twinbill at Saint Michael's scheduled for 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.

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).