Softball Battles Back In Doubleheader Finale To Earn Split at Pace University

Pleasantville, N.Y. (4/16/22) – Franklin Pierce University softball concluded a busy two days with another NE10 doubleheader split at host Pace University (19-3, 4-2 GNAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Ravens opened the day with an offense-quiet 6-0 loss to the Setters, but returned with late game heroics to earn a 6-2 victory in the doubleheader finale.

After sharing the wins, Franklin Pierce improves to 22-4 (10-4 NE10) whereas Pace University moves to 19-8 (7-5 NE10) this season.

Game One:

The opening game of the afternoon was all about Pace University's starting pitcher Giselle Garcia, who tossed a full seven innings while limiting the Ravens to just four hits as well as posting a sizeable 11 strikeouts.

With the Ravens trailing 2-0 at the start of the second inning, junior outfielder Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) led things off with a single to left field for the first hit of the afternoon. Konopinski would also add a stolen base to the mix but would be left stranded on second after a quick trio of strikeouts to end the inning by Garcia.

With two outs in the top of the third inning, first year infielder Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Ariz.) would also hit a single to the left side and would add a second single in the upper half of the sixth inning to lead the Ravens in hits through the opening game.

Sophomore Abbey Poirot (Winstead, Conn.) started in her third game of the season for Franklin Pierce and pitched through 4.1 innings, allowing the six runs on nine hits with one strikeout. In the bottom of the fifth, Madison Labrie (New Ipswich, N.H.) entered and finished the game for the Ravens, holding the Setters to one hit.

Game Two:

Franklin Pierce bounced back in the second game, quickly finding a rhythm in the first inning of play. With the bases loaded, freshman Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.) snuck home from third base off of a wild pitch to get the Ravens on the board while moving baserunners Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) and Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Ariz.) into scoring position. Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.), who had been the current batter, then used a sacrifice fly-out to center field to score Vorseth from third, bringing the Ravens lead to 2-0.

Some competitive play from the Ravens and Setters set the tone for what would become a dramatic finish. Franklin Pierce saw their lead cut to 2-1 off a solo home run from Pace University's Brianna Shea in the bottom of the fourth inning, and saw it vanish during the late stages of the sixth inning to enter the final frame tied 2-2.

However, the momentum remained with Franklin Pierce in the top half of the seventh, starting with a double to right center field gap from senior Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.). After two quick outs, the Ravens struck gold off another double to right field from Lita Vorseth, scoring the runner and re-establishing the Ravens lead. With a little bit of luck, Vorseth would round third and score off of an error by the Setters shortstop, with Hinckley advancing to second base on the same play. For the second time in as many days, Ashley Cangiano homered to bring in two more runs, completing the Ravens offensive outburst in the seventh inning to propel them to the 6-2 win.

Starting pitcher Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) tossed a full five innings, holding the Setters to three hits and a single run while contributing a pair of strikeouts. Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, Fla.) claimed her ninth win of the season after slotting in for the final two innings, closing down the Setters offense in the seventh inning to preserve the late lead. Primavera allowed one run and four total hits, adding in a single strikeout.

Softball returns home this week after eight straight road contests entering a mid-week doubleheader matchup this coming Wednesday. The Ravens will host NE10 opponent Saint Anselm, with first pitches at 3PM and 5PM.