CLERMONT, Fla. (March 18, 2016) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team wrapped up its 12-game, season-opening trip to Florida on Friday morning with a split of non-conference, neutral-site games at Hancock Park. First, freshman designated player Madison Ryan (Dracut, Mass.) and senior catcher Morgan Cahill (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) had three hits each in a 5-3 win over NYIT. Later, Wayne State (Mich.) junior right-hander Lyndsay Butler held the Ravens to just three hits as Franklin Pierce fell 6-1 in the trip's final contest.

With the split, Franklin Pierce's record now stands at 4-8. NYIT dropped to 4-5 with the loss, while Wayne State improved to 19-3.

In the first game on Friday, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Ryan opened the game with a single to left, stole second and scored two batters later on an RBI single by senior shortstop Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.).

The Ravens pushed the lead to 4-0 with a trio of runs in the top of the third. Senior third baseman Erin Wood (Dover, N.Y.) and sophomore center fielder Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, sophomore second baseman Samantha Bonvino (Milford, Mass.) drove in the inning's first run with an RBI single to center, and Cahill followed with a two-run single to left.

NYIT got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, senior right fielder Katie Bejarano-Moreno reached on an infield single, advanced on a single to left by senior shortstop Amber Butenhoff and later scored on an RBI single to right by senior first baseman Kat Zabielski.

Franklin Pierce immediately answered to reclaim the four-run lead, at 5-1, with a run in the top of the sixth. Cahill doubled to right field leading off, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI infield single by Ryan.

NYIT cut the gap to 5-2 with a run in the home half of the sixth. Junior catcher Madison Smith led off with a single to left, went first-to-third on a single to center by junior third baseman Josephine Santagata and scored on an RBI infield single by sophomore left fielder Christine Rizzacasa.

The Bears closed to within 5-3, but no closer, with a final run in the bottom of the seventh. Senior second baseman Tori Duquette reached on an infield single to lead off, went to second on a single by Zabielski and moved to third as senior center fielder Christina Pantages bounced into a fielder's choice. Two batters later, Santagata cashed in the run with an RBI infield single.

Senior right-hander Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) went the distance in the circle for Franklin Pierce in the first game. Over seven innings, she allowed three runs on 13 hits, did not issue a walk and struck out four on the way to the win (4-1).

Senior left-hander Carly Wade (0-4) started and took the loss for NYIT. Over three innings, she allowed four runs on eight hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out two.

In the second game, Wayne State opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Sophomore second baseman Hailey Lazarek reached with a two-out infield single and Butler followed and clubbed a two-run home run to put the Warriors out front.

Franklin Pierce scored its only run of the game in the bottom half of the third to cut the gap to 2-1. Freshman catcher Ashley Deyo (Dover, N.H.) led off with a solo home run, the first long ball of her collegiate career.

Wayne State pushed the lead to 3-1 with a run in the top of the fourth. Sophomore right fielder Kristen Lucas led off with a single to left, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single to center by freshman first baseman Megan Guitar.

Two more runs in the top of the fifth made it a 5-1 lead for the Warriors. Butler led off with a single to center and moved to second when senior third baseman Jade McGarr singled to left. Butler would score on an RBI single by Lucas, while McGarr later scored on an RBI groundout by senior designated player Shelby Spano.

Wayne State tacked on a final insurance run in the top of the seventh to create the 6-1 final. Junior center fielder Allie Buchanan doubled to left leading off and later scored on an RBI single by Lucas.

Freshman right-hander Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin, Mass.) started in the circle and took the loss (0-4) for the Ravens in the second game. Over the first four innings, she allowed three runs on four hits, walked two and struck out one.

Butler (12-2) went the distance for the Warriors on the other side. Over her seven innings, she allowed just the one run on three hits, walked one and struck out six.

The Ravens return to the field on Sunday, March 20, when they open Northeast-10 Conference play with a cross-division doubleheader at New Haven. First pitch is set for noon at UNH Softball Field in West Haven, Conn.

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).