Ravens down team which was ranked in the latest NCAA Division II East Region Poll; Rachel Baxter homers in game one

GAME 1 BOXSCORE

GAME 2 BOXSCORE

RINDGE, N.H. (April 22, 2011) -- The Franklin Pierce University softball team split its Friday doubleheader with New Haven, winning game one, 5-4, and dropping a 6-1 decision in game two at the FPU Softball Field in Rindge. The game-one win was one of the most satisfying victories for the Ravens this season, who moved to 10-24 overall and 8-14 in the Northeast-10. The Chargers, who were ranked No. 7 in the latest NCAA Division II East Region Poll, moved to 24-13 and 14-8 in league play.

Franklin Pierce's lineup exploded in game one to help propel the Ravens to victory. After spotting the Chargers a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Franklin Pierce responded with a trio of runs in the bottom of the frame. Emily Griffin (Leominster, Mass.) led off by doubling to left center and moved up to third after Jayme Bilafer (Concord, Mass.) stroked a single to left field. Jamie Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) drove in Griffin with a single back up through the middle of the infield for Franklin Pierce's first run. Rachel Baxter (Cumberland, R.I.) followed and belted a two-run homer to left field to put the Ravens on top at 3-2.

Franklin Pierce carried that momentum into the bottom of the second inning as they scored two more runs to open up a 5-2 advantage. The Ravens got both runs on one swing of the bat from Griffin, as she blasted a two-run double, scoring Nicole Pratt (Gardner, Mass.) and Jamie Verner (Natick, Mass.) on the play. Verner reached base via a single and Pratt got on following a throwing error by the Chargers.

Ravens starting pitcher Jessica Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) then made the lead stand up as she went the distance in earning the win in the circle. She did yield a run in both the fifth and seventh innings, but New Haven could never push across the tying or go-ahead runs as Franklin Pierce went on to earn the victory. Wiley yielded the four runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts.

Alana Wesche started in the circle for the Chargers and was saddled with the loss after going just 1.1 innings, and allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits.

New Haven, though, responded in game two and posted the 6-1 win. The Chargers scored once in the first inning and pushed two across in the third on a two-run single by Brooke Fisher.

The Ravens tried to mount a comeback and got a run back in the bottom of the third as Bilafer stroked a single to left-center field, driving in Pratt, who had reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the frame. Pratt eventually stole second and moved up to third and into better scoring position later on a wild pitch.

But the Chargers scored two more times in the fifth and once in the sixth to end any threat and seal the win. Shannon Angehr and Fisher each smacked a solo homer in the fifth to highlight the inning.

Micah Stonesifer earned the win in the pitching circle for the UNH as she gave up just one run on five hits over 7.0 innings of work. Rachel Allen (Hull, Mass.) took the loss for the Ravens despite going a complete game. In her 7.0 innings of work, Allen gave up six runs (only four earned) on eight hits with three walks and no strikeouts. Verner had two hits in the game to lead Franklin Pierce's offensive attack.

Saturday's doubleheader featuring Franklin Pierce and Southern Connecticut State was postponed due to potential inclement weather scheduled to hit the Monadnock Region during the weekend. The Ravens return home on Tuesday when they play host to UMass-Lowell in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. The game will be Senior Night and a Pierce Pride contest with giveaways being handed out to 150 students.

For more information on Franklin Pierce softball, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).