RINDGE, N.H. (April 14, 2017) – Trailing by four runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Franklin Pierce University softball team rallied to knot the contest and then pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Northeast-10 Conference opponent Bentley University 6-5 on Friday afternoon at the Bisaccia Softball Complex. The walk-off victory was the first win of the season for the Crimson and Grey and their first in league play while the Falcons fall to 6-14, 2-7 NE10.

With one down in the bottom of the sixth, freshman catcher Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) stroked a single up the middle and teammate Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) responded by ripping a 1-0 offering over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 4-2.

First basemen Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) continued the string of three straight hits with a soft base knock into centerfield. Junior designated player Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) reached via a throwing error to second base by Falcon starting hurler Hannah King on an attempted 1-4-3 double play attempt. Runners were at first and second with one gone and King promptly walked Ashley Deyo (Dover, N.H.) who re-entered the game as a pinch hitter.

The bases were flocked with Ravens and junior shortstop Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) looked to make an impact. Cortese lofted a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Bianco easily, but Falcons right fielder Chelsea Vena's throw was off the mark at third base and skipped to the dead ball area allowing Bisaccia to score and Deyo to move up to second base. King struck out the next batter swinging to end the scoring threat.

Bentley began the top of the seventh as Catie Noons singled to Raven reliever Amelia Mamone (Wyantskill, N.Y.) on a bunt. Sami Palazzolo pinch ran for Noons and scooted to second on a sacrifice bunt. Palazzolo had the awareness to take another base as she made a dash for third and the throw from Deyo was a bit late as Palazzolo avoided the tag at hot corner. Kelsey Kennedy stepped into the batter's box and flew out to left and brought home Palazzolo from third to regain the 5-4 lead to the guest side. Bentley put two more runners on base via a single, a walk and they both advanced into scoring position thanks to a passed ball, but Vena popped out to second base before the Falcons could add an insurance run.

King went back out to the circle for the final half inning of the game already after already throwing 115+ pitches. Following a foul pop to first, junior right fielder Abbigael Cook (Smithfield, R.I.) slapped an opposite field double down the right field line. Conway drove a single right back up the middle into centerfield to plate Cook and tie the game at 5-5. Like Cook, Sorenson went the opposite way to put runners at first and second with one down. King was relieved by lefty Kelsey Smith who loaded the bases as Bianco reached first on a fielding error by Falcon third basemen Stephanie McQuaid. With the bases juiced again, Bisaccia hacked on the first pitch and delivered a walk-off RBI single through the right side as the Ravens won 6-5.

Conway finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, Sorenson was 2-for-4 with the two-run bomb, her second round tripper of the season, and eighth of her career which moves her into sole possession for third place on the program's all-time home run list. Mamone hurled four and two thirds of an inning, allowing only four hits, one run while striking out three batters as she moved to 1-2 on the year.

The Ravens will wrap up the season series with the same Falcons tomorrow with a doubleheader set for noon and 2:00 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).