RINDGE, N.H. (April 24, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team held a 1-0 advantage over the no. 1 ranked team in the east region, Southern New Hampshire University, but the Penmen scored twice in the top of the seventh to take the showdown 2-1 Tuesday afternoon at the Bisaccia Softball Complex. With the win, the Penmen improve to 34-10, 17-7 NE10 and the Ravens fall to 9-22, 6-15 NE10.

SNHU second basemen Shay Sauvageau delivered the decisive blow, a one-out double to clear the bases in the top half of the seventh inning. The extra-base knock was her only hit of the game as Raven starting hurler Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) scattered only five hits while punching out seven batters in six and two-thirds of an inning. Penmen starter Sarah Lavallee threw only five and one-thirds of a frame allowing one run on seven hits while striking out six. Ali Atherton relieved Lavallee and picked up her third win of the season.

Franklin Pierce third basemen Kaitlyn Rooney (Shirley, Mass.) was 2-for-3 at the dish with a two-bagger. Teammate Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) also doubled for her only hit in four plate appearances.

The Crimson and Grey tallied their only run in the bottom of the third. Raven left fielder Abbigael Cook (Smithfield, R.I.) starting the inning working a free pass. The top of the order was due up next and backstop Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) stroked a frozen rope just out of the reach of the leaping Penmen third basemen Erin Garczynski. The next batter, shortstop Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) sacrificed the two runners into scoring position. With one down, Sorenson dug into the box and smoked a grounder to second that was booted allowing the run to cross home plate. Sorenson immediately stole second, but Lavallee settled down by striking out the next batter swinging and getting a fly out to left which prevented further damage.

FPU had a few chances to tack on important insurance runs late. In the bottom of the fourth, the bases were juiced for Rosario, but she grounded into an unassisted put out at third base. In the next half inning, Sorenson began by lining a two-bagger into the right-centerfield gap, however, she ran through the stop sign and was thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple. In the sixth frame, Rooney rocked a one-out double deep to center. Bre Eastlick (Rocklin, Calif.) pinch-hit and bounced a bounding ball up the middle to put runners at the corners with one out. The next batter, Jillian Ostrander (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) was drilled in the head to load the bases for the Ravens once again. Conway promptly fouled out to the catcher and pinch runner Allison Shaw (Bakersfield, Calif.) was picked off third base by Penmen catcher Emily Critch to thwart the Ravens once again.

Zemaitis struggled in the seventh inning as her pitch count rose. Penmen first basemen Jordan Wade was nicked by a pitch on the hands and Gavin hit a ball back to Zemaitis. The freshman pitcher tried to start a twin-killing by throwing to second, but Wade sild in safe before the ball reached the bag. Centerfielder Katie Horiuchi sacrificed both the runners into scoring position and then Sauvageau delivered the game-winning hit to give the Penmen the lead for good. Pierce was retired in order in the home half of the seventh.

The Ravens conclude their home slate of games this Thursday at 4:00 p.m. when they welcome NE10 opponent Saint Michael's College to campus.

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).