NEW HAVEN, Conn. (April 8, 2018) – Trailing by one in the home half of the seventh inning of game one, the Franklin Pierce University softball team earned a walk-off victory a frame later in the eighth as the Ravens split the season series against Northeast-10 Conference opponent the University of New Haven Sunday afternoon at the UNH Softball Field. With the split, the Crimson and Grey move to 6-14, 3-7 NE10 while the Chargers gallop to 13-16, 6-8 NE10.

Game One: Ravens 4, Chargers 3 (Final – 8 Innings)

Junior right-hander Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin, Mass.) started for the Crimson and Grey and only lasted two and two-thirds of an inning. She was relieved by Amelia Mamone (Wynantskill, N.Y.) and she threw the final five and one thirds as she scattered three hits and one walk while striking out one batter. Senior right fielder Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) drove home a game-high two runs with a run scored and a walk. Shortstop Allison Shaw (Bakersfield, Calif.) was a perfect 3-for-3 (1.000) at the dish tallying a double, RBI, one run scored and a stolen base. Pinch-hitter Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) plated a run by going 2-for-2 (1.000) and centerfielder Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) matched Cortese's effort with a 2-for-2 (1.000) performance of her own as she added two free passes.

Charger second basemen Tori Schiebe kept the top of the second inning alive by lofting a two-out double to center. The next batter, third basemen Erin Stever notched the first run of the game by plating Schiebe off a fielding error. After a walk, the Ravens looked like they got the final out, but the umpires reversed the call and said the Raven first baseman's foot came off the bag which led to the second run of the frame. LoMonaco induced a lineout to short for the third out as New Haven jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Ravens knotted up the score at 2-2 following a leadoff walk by Sorenson and Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) stroked double to left that put runners in scoring position with no outs. With one down, Bianco dug into the batter's box and blooped a two-RBI single to right which cleared the bases.

In the next half inning, Charger first basemen Kristine Liptack broke the deadlock singling to right plating designated player Jovanna Hillman to push New Haven back ahead 3-2. The Ravens rallied in the bottom of the seventh to tie the contest. Shaw began the inning by ripping a double to center and was immediately sacrificed over to third base. Cortese stepped to the plate and delivered a game-tying double into the left centerfield gap. The next batter, Sorenson walked to put two runners on with only one away. New Haven reliever Kylie Stonebraker settled down to get the next two outs as the game headed to extras.

In the top of the eighth, the Ravens got a huge double play to dance out of danger. Sierra Whitlock reached on a fielder's choice as the Ravens tagged Erin Stever at second because she came off the bag. Vanessa Strohm raced home trying to score, but she was gunned down to end the scoring threat. Franklin Pierce walked off the contest in the bottom of the frame via a Shaw sacrifice fly to right.

Game Two: Chargers 1, Ravens 0 (Final)

Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) was in the circle for game two and the freshman hurled a complete game allowing only one run while punching out seven batters. Megan Butts opposed her and tossed a complete game as well to even up her record at 7-7 overall.

New Haven manufactured only four hits and scored the lone run of the ballgame in the top of the first after a Whitlock double, a Taylor Luzzi sacrifice bunt and a Marissa Colby RBI groundout to short. Franklin Pierce scattered eight hits with Sorenson, Bianco and second basemen Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) chipping in 2-for-3 (.667) efforts at the plate.

In the bottom of the third, Hinckley began the frame ripping a two-bagger to left field. A sacrifice bunt advanced pinch-runner Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.) to third with one down. However, Butts struck out Shaw swinging and concluded the inning via a 5-3 putout. In the bottom half of the fourth and fifth innings, the Ravens put the leadoff hitter on base, but could not advance the runner around the diamond to bring home a run as they fell 1-0.

The Ravens head back out on the road Tuesday when they travel to NE10 and divisional opponent Saint Michael's for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.

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).