RINDGE, N.H. (April 20, 2018) – A two-run homer by freshman third baseman Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) in the second inning got the Franklin Pierce University softball team off to a strong start on Thursday afternoon. Senior first baseman Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) later provided a key two-run double in the fifth and freshman right-hander Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) struck out six over 6.2 scoreless innings, as the Ravens chalked up a 5-3 win over Stonehill in Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division play at the Bisaccia Softball Complex.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 9-18 (6-11 NE10, 3-10 NE Div.), while Stonehill falls to 8-22 (7-13 NE10, 5-7 NE Div.). After a doubleheader split on April 14, the victory allowed the Ravens to claim the three-game season series between the two teams.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Things started with two outs, as senior designated player Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) lifted a fly ball into deep right field. Stonehill senior right fielder Olivia Peterson broke in on the ball, but the wind -- which was blowing out to right all afternoon -- carried the ball over her head and Bisaccia wound up on third base with a triple. Hinckley was next and rode the wind as well, as she put the ball in the air deep to right-center and it wound up on the other side of the fence for a two-run home run. It was Hinckley's first collegiate homer.

The Ravens added a run in the bottom of the fourth. Senior right fielder Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) led off and ripped a double down the left-field line. She moved to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI grounder to first by Hinckley, who drove in her third run of the game.

Franklin Pierce capitalized on a Stonehill error in the bottom of the fifth for a pair of unearned runs, which proved to be important insurance tallies. Everything started with two outs, as freshman shortstop Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) chopped a 3-0 pitch up the third-base line, which was mishandled by freshman third baseman Michelle Theilgard. After a walk to senior center fielder Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) put runners at first and second, Bianco went the other way and drove a two-run double deep into the gap in right-center to make it a 5-0 game.

Working against junior right-hander Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin, Mass.), Stonehill struck for three runs in the top of the sixth, but would get no closer. Peterson led off with an infield single and moved to second on a single yanked through the left side of the infield by freshman center fielder Hannah Ricker. After a walk to junior catcher Carly Rennie loaded the bases with one out, Theilgard came to the plate and banged a two-run single back up the middle. Runners wound up at second and third on the play, as the throw in from the outfield skipped away from the cutoff man.

With the tying run now at the plate, Zemaitis, who had thrown the first five innings without allowing a run, came back on to take over in the circle again. The Skyhawks sent freshman Gianna Azzato to plate as a pinch hitter, and Zemaitis induced a ground ball to the shortstop. Azzato picked up an RBI on the groundout as Rennie came home to score, but Theilgard was doubled up trying to take third on the throw to end the inning.

Stonehill got a leadoff single in the seventh to get the tying run to the plate again, but Zemaitis got a groundout and then struck out the next two batters to end the game.

In all, Zemaitis (6-7) threw 79 pitches (55 strikes) over 6.2 scoreless innings on the way to the win. She allowed just three hits, did not allow a runner past first base, did not issue a walk, hit a batter and struck out six.

Senior right-hander Jennifer Mayette (6-10) logged the first four innings in the circle for Stonehill and threw 62 pitches (42 strikes). She surrendered three runs on four hits, walked one and struck out two while taking the loss.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, April 21, when they remain home to host Assumption in a doubleheader to open a three-game, NE10, Northeast Division series. First pitch is set for noon at the Bisaccia Softball Complex.

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).