Recap by student-staff writer Rich Rosa 

GARDEN CITY, N.Y (3/29/2024) -- On Friday afternoon at Janet L. Ficke Field, the Franklin Pierce Ravens' softball team swept the Adelphi Panthers for the first time in program history to start 2-0 in NE-10 conference play. 

Score (Game 1): Franklin Pierce 5, Adelphi 2
Score (Game 2): Franklin Pierce 2, Adelphi 1
Records: Franklin Pierce (11-5, 2-0 NE-10), Adelphi (7-15, 0-2 NE-10)  
Location: Garden City, N.Y (Janet L. Ficke Field)  
Date: Friday, March 29, 2024    

HOW IT HAPPENED:  
• In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Adelphi scored the first run of the afternoon in the bottom of the second when senior catcher Alexa Sacripante had an RBI sacrifice fly to left field, scoring senior third baseman Jaden Farhat. 
• In the top of the third, senior third baseman Haley Bigwood (Athol, MA) had a 2 RBI double, scoring junior first baseman Anna Erikson (Temecula, CA) and junior outfielder Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ) to give Franklin Pierce a 2-1 lead. The Panthers tied the game in the bottom of the third when junior outfielder Courtney Murphy singled to left field, scoring junior infielder Angelina Kellogg. 
• In the top of the sixth, freshman designated player Georgia Clough (Barriere, British Columbia) flied out to right field, and senior infielder Molly Magnette (Ayer, MA) scored on the throw to make it 3-2 Ravens. In the top of the seventh, Bigwood got her second hit of the game, scoring senior catcher Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, MA) and sophomore outfielder Andie Anderson (Phoenix, AZ) to give Franklin Pierce a 5-2 lead. The Ravens held on to win 5-2 to take game one of the doubleheader and win their first conference game of the season. Bigwood finished with four RBIs.
• In Game 2, Williams got the Ravens on the board first in the top of the first. She had an RBI double, scoring Cangiano. In the top of the sixth, freshman catcher Charlit Hartenstein (Massapequa, NY) had an RBI single, scoring Bigwood. 
• In the bottom of the seventh, senior catcher Angela Lignelli doubled to left center field scoring Kellogg to cut the Ravens lead to one. A pair of walks juiced the bases for Adelphi, but freshman pitcher Kennedy Morris (Stafford, CT) entered the game and delivered a pitch that ended in a pop-up foul ball that sealed the deal for the Ravens.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:  
• In Game 1, senior pitcher Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, AZ) got her seventh start of the season and pitched five innings. She gave up five hits, two runs, and struck out two batters. Gonzalez picked up her seventh win of the season and set the FPU record for career victories with 32. Freshman pitcher Raylee Gilbert (Waterville, ME) pitched 1.2 innings in relief and gave up no hits. Freshman Kennedy Morris (Stafford, CT) closed out the game and gave up no hits.
• Franklin Pierce outhit Adelphi 9-5. 
• Williams went two for three and scored a run. Bigwood went two for four with four RBIs. 
• In Game 2, senior pitcher Sam Sylvester (Morris, CT) pitched six scoreless innings, gave up two hits, two walks, and struck out three batters. Gilbert came in relief and pitched 0.2 innings. She gave up one hit, one run, three walks, and struck out one batter. Morris closed out the game, giving up no hits, and got her first save of the season.
• Franklin Pierce outhit Adelphi 8-3. 
• Hartenstein went two for three with an RBI. Bigwood went one for three and scored a run. 

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens remain in New York tomorrow, March 30th, as they have a doubleheader against Pace University. Game one is at 1:30 p.m., followed by game two at 3:30 p.m.