CLERMONT, Fla. (March 16, 2016) – Despite a strong first five innings against St. Thomas Aquinas College, the Franklin Pierce University softball team fell, 8-4, after giving up four runs in the sixth inning on Wednesday morning. Later, the Ravens lost, 9-1, to Bemidji State University, with the eight-run rule coming into play after six innings.

With the two losses the Ravens fall to a 2-6 record while St. Aquinas College advances to a 4-6 record. Bemidji State also advanced to a record of 14-5.

In the first game, the bats for Franklin Pierce were strong in the first inning. After allowing one run in the top of first, the Ravens came out strong after a double by senior shortstop Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.). She then successfully stole third and scored after a single by senior third basemen Erin Wood (Dover, N.Y.) to tie the game at 1-1. The single was followed by a double from sophomore centerfielder Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.), however the hits did not stop there. With two runners on base, sophomore right fielder Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) hit a triple to drive home both and make the score 3-1.

No scoring would occur again until the bottom of the third inning, when a single by Sorenson would send Caputo home after she had reached base once again.

With the score 4-1 the Ravens appeared in a strong position, but an RBI single in the top of the fourth by senior first basemen Nikolette Nevola and another pair in the fifth by sophomore right fielder Brittany Malloy and freshman shortstop Kelcy McGeehan, the game was quickly tied at 4-4.

In the top of the sixth, the tie would be broken by the Spartans after a grand slam by McGeehan to put her team ahead 8-4. The only home run of the game would be enough to seal the deal for a victory for the Spartans.

Senior Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) allowed 12 hits and 4 runs to be scored over the first four innings in the circle for the Ravens. Freshman Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin, Mass.), surrendered four runs on three hits over the final three innings and took the loss (0-2).

For STAC, freshman Colleen Borum started and threw the first three innings. She allowed four runs on six hits, walked one and struck out two. Throwing the final four innings, freshman Briana Keaveney (4-0) notched the win out of the bullpen, as she did not allow a run on two hits and struck out five.

Later on, the Ravens fell behind early against Bemidji Sate, after allowing a double by freshman shortstop Brooke Phillips, a triple by junior pitcher Jessica Yost and a sacrifice fly by senior left fielder Lyndsey Peterson, all in the first inning. After falling behind 3-0, the Ravens struggled to catch up. The only run for Franklin Pierce would come in the third inning after a single by Wood to send freshman left fielder Madison Ryan (Dracut, Mass.) home.

Neither team would score again until the bottom of the fifth inning. Bemidji State would score three more runs after a double by junior right fielder Angie Roberts to drive in two runners and a single by junior second baseman Alayna Krejci.

With the Ravens now down 6-1, they would try to fight back after a double by Wood in the sixth inning, but it resulted in no score and two people stranded on base. The bottom of the sixth resulted in three more runs for the Beavers, after a triple by Peterson and doubles from Krejci and freshman teammate Kelsey McAllister. After these three runs, the game ended in a 9-1 decision for the Bemidji State Beavers, in six innings.

Senior pitcher Amanda Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) allowed 12 hits and nine runs (seven earned) over 5.2 innings, walking five and striking out two while taking the loss (0-3).

Yost (10-0) pitched a strong game for the Beavers, as she had 12 strikeouts, and allowed only one run and five hits, while going the distance as well.

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).