Ravens Swept in Senior Day Doubleheader

RINDGE, N.H. (April 29, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce University 2017 softball season came to an end on Saturday with two losses to Northeast-10 Conference opponent Merrimack College, a 11-1 five inning affair and a 9-0 shutout defeat. With the wins, the Warriors finish the year at 32-12, 19-5 NE10 and the Ravens conclude the campaign at 1-34, 1-23 NE10.

In a pregame ceremony, the softball team honored lone senior third basemen Mikaela Ballmer (Birdsboro, Pa.) for her contributions to the university, the team and the athletic department.

Game One: Warriors 11, Ravens 1 (Final – 5 Innings)

Warriors starting pitcher Courtney Zambello improved to 10-3 as she hurled a complete game one run effort scattering three hits and striking out three batters. The guests number two through five hitters had a day as they were 7-for-13 (.538) with four doubles, a triple and nine RBI.

Ballmer, centerfielder Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) and first basemen Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) each recorded hits as Cortese and Bisaccia stroked two baggers.

Merrimack wasted no time scoring as they would tally all 11 runs across the first three frames. Following a run scoring single, first basemen Alyssa Williamson and centerfielder Tamarra Crowe pulled back to back doubles to make it 3-0 in the early going.

In the next half inning, shortstop Tiffany Mangiameli dashed home on a wild pitch to increase their lead to 4-0. Third basemen Caitlin McBride followed designated player Haley Currie by driving her and Samantha Waskowitz by ripping a double to left as the lead grew to 6-0.

Five runs were tacked on in the top of the third as Currie once again dispatched a double into right center and a McBride triple were the key hits of the inning as Merrimack led 11-0 after three.

Franklin Pierce would score their lone run in the bottom of the fourth as second basemen Ashley Mendillo (Milford, Conn.) led off the inning with a walk. After a strikeout, Bisaccia pulled a double down the left field line to put runners at second and third with one down. Left fielder Jillian Ostrander (S. Glens Falls, N.Y.) plated Mendillo with a sacrifice fly to center to cut into the Warrior lead at 11-1.

The Ravens attempted a rally late in the bottom of the fifth, but Cortese's two bagger was wasted as the Warriors run ruled the Ravens.

Game Two: Warriors 9, Ravens 0 (Final)

Waskowitz's play carried over to game two as she was 3-for-5 with three RBI, two stolen bases and one run scored. For the Ravens, designated player Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) and catcher Allison Collins (Sandown, N.H.) racked up two hits apiece in the defeat.

Merrimack got things going in the top of the first with back to back singles as a Mariah Tenney steal of second was sandwiched in between the base knocks. Currie would dribble a ground ball to Raven starting pitcher Amelia Mamone (Wynantskill, N.Y.) who threw to first to get the runner out allowing Tenney to score which put the Warriors up 1-0.

Franklin Pierce threatened with two base hits in the bottom of the first, but couldn't advance the runners past second base.

Merrimack added to their lead in the top of the fourth as two straight singles, one into the left centerfield gap and the other to short put runners at first and second with no outs. Two outs were made on a fielder's choice and a lineout to center, but a fielding error kept the inning alive for the guests. Another fielding miscue allowed the run to come across as the Warriors led 2-0 heading into the home half of the fourth.

Merrimack would add three runs in the top of the fifth all off RBI singles, two runs in the top of the sixth and two in the top of the seventh to take the game 9-0.

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).