RINDGE, N.H. (April 17, 2017) – Franklin Pierce University junior first basemen Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) combined to go 2-for-5 with her fourth home run on the season as the Ravens dropped two contests on Monday to Northeast-10 Conference opponent Saint Michael's College. The wins improved the Purple Knights mark to 5-16 overall and 4-7 in league play while the Ravens lost their 22nd and 23rd games on the year.

Game One: Purple Knights 4, Ravens 3 (Final)

Bianco went 1-for-3 with her team-leading fourth round tripper. Fellow teammate, second basemen Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) launched a two-run shot of her own. Raven starting hurler Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin, Mass.) pitched a complete game scattering nine hits and allowing four runs, all earned while striking out two batters.

For the Purple Knights, cleanup hitter Torie Rathwell was perfect at the dish with a 4-for-4 performance and two RBI. Designated player Danielle Markowski was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Danielle Brown earned her second win of the year by throwing a complete game and striking out three batters.

Saint Michael's got on the board first in the top of the third as leadoff hitter Fallon Tierney worked a walk, was sacrificed over to second and advanced to third on ground out. Tierney was brought in by Rathwell on a bloop single into left. The Purple knights added another run in the top of the fifth as a line drive single to center off the bat of Rathwell drove home Tierney.

Bianco began the home half of the fifth by slapping an opposite field homer on a 0-1 pitch to cut the deficit to one. Raven first basemen Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) reached first as Purple Knight second basemen Christina Brazeau dropped a pop fly. Bisaccia advanced to second after a sacrifice attempt and was almost stranded in scoring position until Cortese stroked a two run bomb to center which gave the Ravens a 3-2 lead.

The guests threatened in the top half of the sixth with runners at second and third with no one out. LoMonaco induced a lineout to second base and got a 5-2 putout at home off a chopping groundball to keep it a one score game.

Saint Michael's regained the lead for good in their final at bats as a hit off the bat of Christina Brazeau was bobbled by Bianco and two singles that were ripped up the middle followed to load the bases. The next batter Caroline Staples reached first on a fielder's choice 1-2 putout to keep it a one run FPU lead. Danielle Markowski turned the tide with a two run double that clipped the wall brought in two to clinch the game for the guests.

Game Two: Purple Knights 5, Ravens 3 (Final)

Raven third basemen Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) racked up two hits in four at bats from the leadoff spot including a double. Second basemen Kaitlyn Rooney (Shirley, Mass.) recorded her first career hit, a RBI single. Freshman southpaw Amelia Mamone (Wynantskill, N.H.) threw a complete game allowing five runs – four earned while striking out one batter.

Brazeau, from the two hole, knocked in two runs and chipped in a two bagger. Rathwell continued her strong hitting by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double. She also started on the mound and went three innings allowing three runs – one earned with one strikeout. 

Rooney opened the scoring for the Crimson and Grey by slapping a 1-1, two out offering the opposite way to score Bianco from second who reached via a single to center. Rooney promptly swiped second and the catchers throw was airmailed to center as Bisaccia scored easily from third to crack the scoring column at 2-0.

Saint Michael's responded by loading the bases on three consecutive singles. Rathwell helped her own cause by pulling a base knock into left field for the Purple Knights first run. Mamone and Ravens backstop Allison Collins (Sandown, N.H.) teamed up for two straight 1-2 force outs at the plate for the first and second outs. The guests eventually knotted the score on another error by the Ravens.

Franklin Pierce scored their final run of the game as they loaded the bases on a fielder's choice, an error and a hit by pitch. The deadlock breaking run came off a miscue by the guest's pitcher as the Ravens jumped ahead 3-2.

A single up the middle off the bat of centerfielder Chandler Wilder put runners at second and third with two down. Clinging to a one run lead, the Ravens looked to end the frame with the lead, but Fallon Tierney singled to left and Brazeau broke the contest open by roping a 2-1 pitch to left that cleared the bases to push the Purple Knights ahead for good at 5-3

The Ravens will conclude their home stand on Wednesday when they welcome conference foe Southern New Hampshire 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).