AIC Takes Two From Softball on Sunday

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 9, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team dropped two seven inning contests Sunday afternoon to Northeast-10 Conference opponent American International College on Judy Groff Field.  In game one, the Yellow Jackets bested the Ravens 6-1 and in the second contest of the twinbill they defeated the Crimson and Grey 4-1. The wins move the Yellow Jackets to 10-11, 7-3 on the year while the losses give the Ravens 16 and six in league play.

Six different players recorded a hit for the Ravens including centerfielder Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) who went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, her first of the season and seventh of her career which ties her for third place with former teammate Courtney Caputo (2013-16) on the all-time home run list. Sophomore hurler Abbie Paquette (Biddeford, Maine) was saddled with her fourth loss of the year by hurling four and one thirds of an inning, striking out three batters, allowing five runs – two earned and scattering seven hits.

Alyssa Camargo led the Yellow Jackets on the hill with six innings of one run ball while punching out four batters. Shortstop Yami Lopez-Perez was 3-for-4 from the third spot in the lineup with a homer, a triple, two RBI and three runs scored.

AIC opened the top half of the first with a run as Keymell Cartwright bunt singled to third, stole second base then scored. Paquette induced a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Alexa DiLeo to end the frame. AIC added two to their lead off a DiLeo double down the left field line and a Kristen Steele single to short as the Yellow Jackets increased their lead to 3-0.Their advantage pushed to 5-0 due to a Lopez-Perez's triple and a DiLeo groundout.

Sorenson put the Ravens on the board with their only run of the contest as she belted a solo shot to center. Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) singled into left field following the homer as FPU looked to rally. Bisaccia was tagged out at second on a fielder's choice, as Mikaela Ballmer (Birdsboro, Pa.) beat a throw to first, but Camargo struck out the next two batters looking to end the Raven scoring threat.

The Ravens had two more chances to cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth and seventh but couldn't move the runners past second.

Game Two: Yellow Jackets 4, Ravens 1 (Final)

Raven right fielder Abbigael Cook (Smithfield, R.I.) had a 2-for-2 day atop the lineup. Designated player Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and shortstop Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Freshman southpaw Amelia Mamone (Wynantskill, N.Y.) earned the start and twirled four and one thirds of an inning while allowing only one run and punching out three batters.

In the bottom of the second, Cortese began the frame by roping a single up the middle and advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. Yellow Jacket starter Jillian Bedard struck out Bisaccia swinging, but couldn't retire Bianco as she smoked a two bagger to left center that plated Cortese. Bianco moved up to third on a ground out, but couldn't reach home as the inning came to an end.

AIC immediately got the run back as Ashley Hughes led off the inning with a single through the left side. Hughes was sacrificed to second then reached third on a passed ball. Sarah Baganz drove in Hughes on a ground out to shortstop. The following batter, Lopez-Perez manufactured a double down the right field line in an attempt to break the deadlock, but DiLeo grounded out to end the inning.

In the top of the sixth, AIC scored two runs on Raven errors to snap the tie at 3-1. They added an insurance run in the top half of the seventh as they shut down the Raven bats through the remaining frames.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday when they travel to Saint Anselm for a doubleheader at 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).