WORCESTER, Mass. (April 3, 2021) – The Franklin Pierce University softball program was back in action on Saturday afternoon taking on Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference action. The Ravens bats awoke in the first game powering them to a 9-3 win while senior right-hander Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) brought her A game once a game during a 3-2 Raven victory. The wins, the fourth and fifth in a row for Pierce push them to 8-2, 7-1 NE10 on the season while the Greyhounds slide to 2-2, 2-2 NE10.

Zemaitis took the circle for the second game of the twinbill. The Ravens ace threw her third complete game of the season, punching out 12 batters in the process allowing two runs – one earned on four hits. It was the 13th double-digit strikeout game of her career.

Game One: Ravens 9, Greyhounds 3 (Final)

Sophomore centerfielder Ari Rodriguez (Clinton, Mass.) did most of the damage for the Ravens from the nine-hole in the lineup. She was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. Reigning NE10 Rookie of the Week, freshman right fielder Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored. Reigning NE10 Player of the Week, senior first baseman Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) was 1-for-1 with three walks.

Freshman starter Samantha Sylvester (Morris, Conn.) drew the start in the circle and tossed four innings for her first collegiate win scattering six hits allowing three runs – two earned and two strikeouts. Graduate southpaw Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) came on in relief for her second save of the season hurling three shutout innings punching out two batters in the process.

Mia Nowicki, the Assumption started was rocked for six runs, all earned in an inning of work. She gave up three hits and issued three free passes while not making an out in the seven-run Raven second inning.

The Greyhounds crossed the plate first in the bottom of the first. Centerfielder Jordan Dwyer was hit by the pitch and was immediately plated when third baseman Mckenzie Richards singled through the left side and brought home her teammate off an error. Sylvester then induced three consecutive groundouts leaving Richards in scoring position at third base.

In the top of the second, Hinckley led off the frame with a walk. Cangiano followed with a single and advanced to second on the throw. The third hitter of the inning, junior catcher Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) drew a walk loading the bases for freshman left fielder Jenna Murray (Wilbraham, Mass.). Murray dug into the batter's box and slapped a single down the right-field line scoring two runs to push the Ravens ahead 2-1. They kept being patient with Nowicki and she walked the next batter, freshman designated player Susannah Campos (Leemore, Calif.) to reload the bases. Rodriguez then doubled to center to increase the Raven edge to 4-1.

Nowicki was relieved by Catherine Higgins and she immediately walked the next two batters, junior shortstop Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) and graduate second baseman Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.), who was credited with an RBI. Graduate third baseman Madi Killebrew (Dana Point, Calif.) reached base on a fielder's choice RBI and Cangiano grounded out to cap the scoring as the Ravens batted around the lineup to jump ahead 7-1.

Assumption brought the deficit down to 7-3 in the bottom of the third when shortstop Alyssa Beaton belted a two-run homer, her only hit of the game to drive in Richards. Pierce would tally two insurance runs, a Cangiano RBI single in the fourth and a Rodriguez homer in the fifth to pull off the 9-3 dub.  

Game Two: Ravens 3, Greyhounds 2 (Final)

Game two of the doubleheader was a pitcher's duel as both hurlers tossed complete games. Zemaitis limited the damage against her striking out 12 batters for her 13th career double-digit strikeout game. Erin Barry, the Assumption starter allowed 10 hits in seven innings and three runs, all earned with three strikeouts. Killebrew, Hinckley Cangiano, and Rego tallied two hits apiece in the win for Pierce.

During the bottom of the fourth, Zemaitis made quick work of the heart of the lineup, the Hounds four through six hitters all via swinging strikeout. That carried over to the fifth frame where she sent down the next two batters swinging as well making it five straight hitters down by way of the K.

In the top of the sixth, the first three Raven batters reached base all via singles. With the bases juiced and no outs, Martinez pinch hit for Murray and pulled a two-RBI double on a 0-1 count down the third baseline and to the wall for the contest's first runs as the Ravens led 2-0. The runners stayed in scoring position and with one away, Rego grounded out to second plating the other run to push the Ravens ahead 3-0.

Zemaitis faced a little bit of trouble in the bottom of the sixth. The first batter, Dwyer reached first on an error by the Ravens shortstop. Following an out, Beaton doubled down the left-field line putting runners at second and third with one away. Zemaitis then induced a popup to short for the second out, but first baseman Alyssa Bialakis singled to left but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into extra bases. Two runs scored as Assumption trailed 3-2 through six.

The pitcher had no issue in the bottom of the seventh as she struck out the first batter of the inning and final batter of the game completing the Ravens win.

Franklin Pierce heads back to the diamond on Monday to complete their four-game season series with Assumption with first pitch set for 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://fpuravens.com). 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://fpuravens.com). You can also follow the softball team on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPUSoftball_) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpu_ravens_softball).