RINDGE, N.H. (April 21, 2018) – Of the eight runs allowed by the Franklin Pierce University softball team in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, only one was earned. Visiting Assumption capitalized on five errors by the Ravens to sweep a Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division doubleheader and spoil Senior Day at the Bisaccia Softball Complex. In the first game, Assumption used three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, all unearned, to erase a 1-0 deficit on the way to a 4-1 win. In the second game, the Greyhounds trailed 2-1, but struck twice in the sixth and once in the seventh to put together a 4-2 victory.

With the losses, Franklin Pierce falls to 9-20 (6-13 NE10, 3-12 NE Div.), while Assumption improves to 16-11 (11-6 NE10, 8-4 NE Div.). The two teams will meet again on Sunday, for a single game to wrap up the three-game weekend series. First pitch is set for noon at the Bisaccia Softball Complex.

In the first game, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first. With the inning starting at the top of the order, sophomore catcher Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) led off with a walk and moved around to third as a single by freshman shortstop Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) and a walk to senior center fielder Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) loaded the bases with nobody out. The Ravens would ultimately settle for one run, as senior right fielder Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) drove home Conway with a one-out, RBI fielder's choice.

Assumption took the lead with a trio of unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, freshman second baseman Brooke Murphy reached on an infield single to shortstop, and then the Franklin Pierce defense melted down from there. Freshman designated player Haley Drakoulakos attempted to sacrifice Murphy to second and dropped a bunt just out in front of the plate. Conway came out to play the ball, but her throw to first pulled the covering second baseman off the bag, which left everybody safe on a throwing error.

Now with runners at first and second and one away, the Greyhounds opted to attempt another sacrifice, with freshman shortstop Alyssa Beaton dropping a bunt on the left side. Freshman third baseman Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) fielded cleanly, but then threw the ball away and down the right-field line while making the play to first. The error allowed both Murphy and Drakoulakos to score, while Hinckley wound up at third base. Senior first baseman Stephanie Menard would plate the final run of the frame with a sacrifice fly down the right-field line.

Assumption added an unearned insurance marker in the top of the seventh to create the 4-1 final. Junior left fielder Caitlin Mirabell led off with a double into the gap in right center, and then sophomore pinch runner Ally Hinojosa moved up to third on a passed ball.  Hinojosa scored from third on a sacrifice fly to right by senior third baseman Nicole Duplease.

Freshman right-hander Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) went the distance on 86 pitches (64 strikes) in the circle for Franklin Pierce. She was ultimately charged with four runs (all unearned) on four hits, walked one and struck out seven while taking the loss.

For Assumption, it was senior right-hander Kendal Roy (8-6) who threw a complete game on 109 pitches (71 strikes) to pick up the victory. She allowed one run on three hits, walked two and struck out five.

In the second game, Assumption took an early lead, with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Murphy led off and popped the ball up in front of the plate, but wound up reaching at second base as senior first baseman Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) was unable to make the catch. Murphy eventually scored on a two-out RBI single by Menard.

Franklin Pierce jumped out front with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and nobody on, senior left fielder Abbigael Cook (Smithfield, R.I.) and Conway set the table with back-to-back singles through the right side of the infield. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Rosario cashed them both in with a two-run single back up the middle.

Assumption answered immediately and took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the sixth. With one out, sophomore right fielder Kayla Peabody reached on an infield single and came all the way around to score two batters later, on a two-out, RBI double into the gap in right-center by junior catcher Victoria Petrie. Petrie moved to third on an infield single and then scored while junior center fielder Julia Mazzeo reached on a fielding error by Hinckley at third.

The Greyhounds tacked on an unearned insurance run in the top of the seventh to create the 4-2 final. Drakoulakos singled up the middle leading off, but was erased at second as Beaton bounced into a fielder's choice. Menard followed and chopped a ball straight at Hinckley at third. Hinckley fielded cleanly, but her throw to second missed freshman second baseman Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.) and sailed off into right-center field, which allowed Beaton to come all the way around to score.

Franklin Pierce loaded the bases with two outs in the last of the seventh after back-to-back singles by Rosario and Sorenson. However, the rally was not to be, as Bianco flew out to right field on the second pitch of her at-bat to end the game.

Sophomore left-hander Amelia Mamone (Wynantskill, N.Y.) used 102 pitches (71 strikes) to throw a complete game in the circle for the Ravens in the second game. She allowed four runs (one earned) on 10 hits, did not issue a walk, threw a wild pitch and struck out one while taking the loss (3-8).

Meanwhile, it took freshman right-hander Mia Nowicki (8-5) 126 pitches (74 strikes) to dispatch the Ravens for Assumption. She surrendered two runs on seven hits, walked three, threw a wild pitch and struck out seven.

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).