HOOKSETT, N.H. (April 18, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University softball program led by senior right fielder Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) split their two games against Northeast-10 Conference opponent Southern New Hampshire University as they defeated the Penmen 8-0 in game one before falling 7-2 in the nightcap. With the 1-1 effort, the Crimson and Grey move to 8-18, 5-11 NE10 while the hosts climb to 29-9, 12-6 NE10.

Cortese produced a career-contest in game one as she went a perfect 3-for-3 (1.000) at the plate with three runs scored, five RBI, a homer and two doubles. She followed up her game one performance with a stellar game two going 2-for-3 (.667) with another double and the Ravens lone two RBI. Cortese's homer was her ninth career bomb moving her into third all-time in the program's record book.

Game One: Ravens 8, Penmen 0 (Final – 6 innings)

Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) earned the start in game one and went six strong innings giving up only three hits, three walks while striking out five and improved her win/loss mark to 5-7. Her counterpart Maddy Barone suffered the setback allowing six runs – three earned across five innings. Ravens designated player Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) produced two hits in three at-bats (.667) with a homer, three RBI and one run scored. Cleanup hitter Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) scored twice while chipping in two runs.

The Ravens tallied three runs in the top half of the first inning with two outs. Raven shortstop Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) reached base after a fielding error off a bunt by the SNHU hurler. Bianco followed by singling to short. Cortese the next batter, promptly unloaded the bases by depositing a 2-2 offering over the left centerfield fence to push the Ravens in front 3-0 early.

In the fourth, Cortese smacked another 2-2 count pitch into deep centerfield. Bisaccia drove her teammate home via a single to center after taking a first-pitch ball to grow the edge to 4-0. During the sixth inning, the Ravens jumped all over relief pitcher Olivia Strasser as she did not record an out. Barone stayed in the game and allowed back-to-back singles to Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) and Bianco. Strasser relived her teammate and moved ahead of Cortese 1-2. The senior then rocked her second double of the game and her fourth and fifth RBI to push the Ravens lead to 6-0. Two pitches later, Bisaccia pulled a moonshot to left as Pierce pushed the score to 8-0.

Zemaitis ran into a little trouble in the bottom of the sixth as Shay Sauvageau and Erin Garczynski reached base via a two-bagger and a fielding error. With runners at the corners and no outs, Zemaitis struck out the next batter swinging, induced a pop-up to short and a fielder's choice put out to complete the run-rule victory over the Penmen.

Game Two: Penmen 7, Ravens 2 (Final)

The nightcap was a hit parade as both teams recorded double-digit hits and combined for 21 base knocks. Leadoff catcher Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) chipped in two hits while Cortese added the other two hit ballgame. Six other Ravens notched one hit including five for extra bases. Sorenson scored the only two runs in the contest for the Crimson and Grey. For SNHU, first basemen Jordan Wade went 3-for-4 (.750) with four RBI and a triple.

As they did in game one, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring in the top of the first. Conway led off the ballgame roping a 0-1 single. A few batters later, Cortese plated Sorenson who reached off an error to push the Ravens ahead 1-0.

Southern New Hampshire's offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third. Garczynski singled through the right side on a 1-2 pitch to drive in shortstop Brittany Perdigao. The Penmen took the lead for good when backstop Emily Critch singled up the middle with the bases loaded to increase the Penmen advantage to 2-1. Wade dug into the box and immediately stroked a triple on the first pitch to unload the bags. An Erin Tyrrell groundout was the first out of the frame and capped the scoring as the Penmen led 6-1.

Wade added a double in the bottom of the fourth to push the hosts ahead 7-1 before another Cortese two-bagger cut the Raven deficit to 7-2.

The Ravens return home to Rindge on Friday to conclude their season series with conference opponent Stonehill College at 2:00 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).