MANCHESTER, N.H. (March 28, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University softball program started Northeast-10 Conference competition Wednesday with a doubleheader at Saint Anselm College. The Hawks ended up sweeping the Crimson and Grey by 3-2 and 6-2 scores on the South Athletic Field. With the wins, the hosts soar to 17-7-1, 4-1 NE10 while the Ravens fell in their first two conference contests.

Game One: Hawks 3, Ravens 2 (Final)

Raven freshman Bre Eastlick (Rocklin, Calif.) and Rachel Vecchiarelli (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) each were 2-for-3 (.667) at the dish in game one while designated player Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) knocked home the only Raven RBI. SAC Second basemen Madison Borelli went 1-for-3 (.333) with an RBI. The Hawks were extremely aggressive on the base paths as they totaled four stolen bases.

Hawk starter Morgan Perry improved to 9-2 on the season with a complete game 10 strikeout effort. Raven hurler, freshman Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) dropped to 2-3 as she allowed three unearned runs while punching out 10 batters. Zemaitis struggled with her control as she issued eight free passes.

Franklin Pierce scored the first run of the ballgame when Bisaccia roped a single to left on a 0-1 offering that plated Eastlick who reached base via a leadoff double with the count full in the top half of the first inning. In the bottom of the second, Pierce increased their advantage to 2-0 as Vecchiarelli singled to right to begin the frame. She was sacrificed over to second base two batters later and was brought home via a throwing error by Saint Anselm.

The hosts finally cracked the scoring column in the home half of the third inning. With one away, backstop Megan Murrell lofted a two-bagger into the left centerfield gap. The next batter right fielder Shannon Colson reached base following a Raven fielding error. The bases were loaded after four straight balls by Zemaitis, but she settled down to punch out first basemen Shannon McLaughlin and forced Michaela Kane to foul out which concluded the Hawk threat.

Saint Anselm came close to tying the score in the bottom of the fourth after center fielder Amanda Bickford lofted a leadoff double to left centerfield. Zemaitis punched out Maggie Murphy swinging for the first out. Zemaitis lost control for a few batters as Erin Thompson promptly walked and stole second and Murrell earned a free pass to load the bases with only one down. Zemaitis took over and sent Colson and Jordan O'Connor back to the dugout swinging for the final two outs of the frame.

FPU tried to get an insurance run across the board in the top of the seventh as pinch hitter Kaitlyn Rooney (Shirley, Mass.) singled to third and advanced to second when freshman Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) sacrificed her into scoring position. Eastlick worked a five-pitch walk to put runners at first and second with only one out. However, Perry got her ninth and tenth strikeout to end the inning.

The Hawks walked off the contest in the bottom of the seventh. Murrell looked at four straight balls to put the go-ahead run at the plate. Colson bunt singled and advanced to second base after another Raven miscue. O'Connor sacrificed Murrell home and Borelli gave her squad the win via a single to the catcher.

Game Two: Hawks 6, Ravens 2 (Final)

In game two, Raven third basemen Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) paced the Crimson and Grey offense with a 2-for-3 (.667) solo homer and two-run effort. Teammate, right fielder Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) also was 2-for-3 (.667) with an RBI. Saint Anselm carried over their aggressive base running to game two where the swiped three more bags.

Courtney Fisher was in the circle for the Hawks and tossed a complete game, two-run duel with five strikeouts while scattering five hits and only one walk. For the Ravens, Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin, Mass.) earned the start and allowed three runs – two earned over three and two-thirds of an inning. Southpaw Amelia Mamone (Wynantskill, N.Y.) came on in relief and allowed three runs – two earned while notching two strikeouts.

Saint Anselm got on the board first in the bottom half of the first as Murrell plated designated player Erin Thompson, who reached base after a Raven error. Bianco tied the score at one-all in the next half inning when she stroked a solo bomb over the left centerfield fence. An inning passed until the Ravens rallied to take a 2-1 lead. Bianco notched her second extra-base hit of the contest as she ripped a two-out double to right center. The next batter, Cortese singled up the middle to bring home Bianco and more importantly push the Ravens out in front with three and a half innings to play.

The Hawks took the lead for good as they tallied five runs over the next few frames while holding the Ravens scoreless. With two down and the bases full, Thompson stroked a single straight through the middle of the infield to push the Hawks ahead. They chipped in three more runs on two RBI groundouts and a bunt single to beat FPU 6-2.

The Ravens return to Saint Anselm tomorrow to conclude the three game series versus the Hawks with first pitch set for 3:00 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). You can also follow the softball team on Twitter (https://twitter.com/fFPUSoftball_) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpu_ravens_softball).