TUSCON, Ariz. (February 17, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University softball program began their 2018 season on the road in Tuscon, Ariz. to take part in the Cactus Classic at the Abraham Lincoln Regional Park Saturday. The tournament was supposed to start on Thursday, but a rare rainstorm flooded the field and washed out the games Thursday before postponing contests Friday.

The Ravens dropped all three contests Saturday, slid to 0-3 on the young campaign falling 9-1 in five innings to Biola University, 5-3 to Fort Lewis College, and were shutout 12-0 to Azusa Pacific University in the nightcap.

Freshman first basemen Bre Eastlick (Rocklin, Calif.) carried the Ravens Saturday going 4-for-6 (.667) at the dish with a two-bagger, a combined three free passes and three runs scored.  

Game One: Eagles 9, Ravens 1 (Final – 5 Innings)

Biola stroked nine hits in the contest and scored nine runs off four Raven miscues. Kaile Chavez earned the start in the circle for the Eagles and fired five innings allowing only one run off five walks without allowing a hit.

In the top of the first, the Ravens drew first blood Eastlick and freshman utility Allison Shaw (Bakersfield, Calif.) drew walks while senior first basemen Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) wore one for the team to load the bases. Chavez induced a punch out, but freshman backstop Rachel Vecchiarelli (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) showed great plate discipline and reached first via a free pass, which brought home Eastlick for the only Raven run of the game.

The Eagles would tie the game in the next half inning when Tori Apodaca reached first base via a dropped fly ball error that brought home, Haley Martinez who walked, stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball. They would break the game open in the bottom of the second as an Ari Gonzales double to left and a Karen Lieng triple plated four of the five runs to up the Biola advantage.

Game Two: Skyhawks 5, Ravens 3 (Final)

Raven freshman hurler Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) dominated the Skyhawks on the mound to the tune of 10 strikeouts in the complete game 124 pitch setback. Eastlick was 3-for-3 in the duel with two runs scored while teammate, designated player Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) went 1-for-3 at the plate with three RBI.

Fort Lewis tallied three runs in the top of the first as Lauren Caldwell singled up the middle to score two runs. Julia Roberts added an insurance run plating Caldwell by roping a single down the right-field line. In the bottom of the first, an Eastlick single and a Jillian Ostrander (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) two-bagger to begin the frame set up the next batters to do damage. Skyhawk starter Kendra Keahbone settled down to get the next two outs until Bisaccia ripped a single to center which sent Eastlick and Ostrander home. The Ravens trailed 3-2 after the first inning.

Franklin Pierce knotted the score at three all in the bottom of the third inning as Eastlick, Shaw and Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) all reached base via singles with only one down. Bisaccia brought Eastick home once again with a fielder's choice. Runners remained for the next batter, but she flew out to center to end the threat.

The Skyhawks grabbed the lead and didn't look back as Denae Fisher walked, stole second base and Cassie Sloan, who was pinch running came around to score following a throwing error into centerfield on Fisher's theft. Another Raven miscue in the top of the seventh extended the lead to 5-3 before the Ravens went down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Game Two: Cougars 12, Ravens 0 (Final – 5 Innings)

Eastlick notched the only base knock in the contest for the Crimson and Grey as Racqual Espinoza spun five innings of shutout softball while striking out seven Raven batters. Becca Jewett doubled to right in the bottom of the first for the Cougars to score Kayla Jimenez. They added four runs in the bottom half of the third on a Jewett two-run big fly and tacked on seven in the next inning to win the final game of the evening.

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).