RINDGE, N.H. (MAY 2, 2021) – Franklin Pierce University softball graduate third baseman Madi Killebrew (Dana Point, Calif.) was a nice 6-for-9 at the dish and hit a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning in game two as the Ravens split their final regular-season twinbill falling 4-3 in nine during game one before securing the 8-5 extra-inning victory in game two.

The split concludes the most successful season in Ravens softball history as they end the year with a 19-7, 18-6 NE10 record while the Penmen are even at 12-12, 12-12 NE10. The Ravens, the no. 2 seed in the NE10 Northeast Division will play in their first-ever NE10 Conference Tournament game at home Tuesday versus no. 7 seeded Stonehill College at 3:00 p.m. The Ravens swept the season series 4-0 against the Skyhawks this season.

Killebrew was 3-for-4 in game one with a free pass before exploding in game two with a 3-for-5, double, walk-off homer, and three RBI performance. She hit her fifth homer of the season which is tied for second in the NE10 while her .438 batting average stands alone as second in the conference and Killebrew ranks fifth with 23 RBI.

Game One: Penmen 4, Ravens 3 (Final – 9 Innings)

Junior shortstop Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) had a 2-for-6 game one at the plate with two RBI. Center fielder, sophomore Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) had the other multiple-hit effort going 2-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base. Sophomore right-hander Madison Labrie (New Ipswich, N.H.) earned the start and hurled five innings of scoreless ball scattering four hits with one punch out.

For the Penmen, right fielder Alyssa Dimauro provided a 2-for-3 effort with an RBI while first baseman Emily Carbonneau was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Chloe Griffin was the pitcher of record improving to 8-3 hurling two scoreless frames.

Lopez got the Ravens on the board in the bottom of the second smoking a two-out single up the middle to plate two runs, who both reached base via singles. Junior catcher Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) kept the line moving smoking another ball right up the gut, however, Killebrew recorded the final out of the frame off a fielder's choice unassisted put out by the Penmen third basemen.

In the top of the fifth, SNHU put together back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Labrie settled down and induced a double play, Killebrew stepped on the third-base bag for the force out then fired on to first base to complete the twin killing. The next batter, shortstop Bella Dickinson grounded out to third to end the Penmen scoring threat.

During the bottom of the frame, a hit by pitch and a single up the middle off the bat of graduate student Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.) put runners at first and second. They advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch. The next Raven hitter was retired then second baseman Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) reached second off a dropped pop up by the Penmen second baseman scoring a run to make it a 3-0 game. Konopinski fouled out to left field and then Lopez grounded out to short on a full count keeping it a 3-0 game.

The Penmen got a run back in the top of the sixth. Centerfielder Bryn Garczynski roped an opposite-field triple over the pulled-in Raven right fielder's head. Dimauro followed with a sacrifice fly to right to cut the deficit to 3-1.

With their last chance, SNHU put the first two runners on base to begin the top of the seventh. Catcher Emily Critch walked and second baseman Shay Sauvageau got to first on a fielder's choice throwing error by the Raven pitcher. The next hitter reached on a fielder's choice putting runners at the corners and one out. Left fielder Jackie Gavin took second base on a snap throw to third base putting the tying run in scoring position. Carbonneau lofted a sacrifice fly to bring the margin to 3-2, then on a lengthened at-bat, pinch hitter Coralie Mathieu singled to short to plate the tying run. Pierce got the final out to send the game into the bottom of the seventh tied 3-3.

The Ravens put together a two-out-scoring threat in the bottom of the eighth. Killebrew and first baseman Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) worked walks advancing the game-winning run to second base, however, Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) flew out to left-center field to end the inning.

SNHU scrapped a run in the top of the ninth inning. Sauvageau walked to start the inning and then was sacrificed over to second base on a bunt. Carbonneau singled to right-center field to plate the run from second on a close play at the plate. She moved up to scoring position on the throw home but forgot how many outs there were and was doubled off second base to complete the inning.

FPU battled in the bottom of the ninth. With one away, Ari Rodriguez (Clinton, Mass.) took one for the team and was hit by a pitch, she moved up to second base on a groundout, Konopinski followed with a single to the pitcher and took second base on a steal. Lopez struck out looking to end the contest.

Game Two: Ravens 8, Penmen 5 (Final – 9 Innings)

Lopez was 2-for-4 in game two combining with Killebrew for the only multiple-hit showings. Rego brought home two runs and stole a bag while Hinckley, Cangiano, and Rodriguez doubled. Freshman Samantha Sylvester (Morris, Conn.) improved to 6-0 on the season picking up the victory in extra innings.

Dimauro and Sauvageau picked up three hits apiece while Sauvageau plated two runs. Critch walloped solo johnson, one of her two hits in the battle. Griffin came on in relief and pitched five and one-third of an inning scatting five hits and allowing three earned runs.

SNHU scored the first run in the top of the first when Sauvageau singled up the middle on a 3-1 count to drive home Dimauro who singled to third base to open the contest. With runners at the corners, Gavin flew out to center to wrap up the opening at-bats with the Penmen leading 1-0.

Cangiano evened the contest 1-1 in the bottom of the first as she lined a double dead center off the fence scoring Lopez. The next batter, Rego ripped a single right through the Penmen pitcher's legs and into center clearing the bases to give the Ravens their first lead at 3-1.

The Penmen notched back-to-back hits to start the top of third, a Dimauro single, and a Griffin double down the left-field line for runners at second and third with no outs. Raven starter Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) induced a groundout, but Critch reached base on a dropped fly ball to left field to score a run making it a 3-2 ball game. They deadlocked the contest 3-3 when Gavin grounded out to third base and the runner Critch was caught in a rundown leading to the tying run to score.

Pierce immediately got a run back via two straight two-baggers off the stroke of Killebrew and Hinckley to move the home squad in front 4-3. Rodriguez grounded a double down the left-field line just out of the reach of the Penmen third baseman for the third double of the frame and to up the margin to 5-3.

The guests made it a one-run game, 5-4 in the top of the fifth when Critch belted a solo bomb over the left-field fence with one out in the inning. They waited patiently to tie the game in their last at-bats when Sauvageau singled to right off Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) to bring it to a 5-5 contest with one down. SNHU loaded the bases with one away off a hit by pitch, however, Mamone induced the unconventional 1-2-3 double play to keep the game tied 5-5.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Ravens put two runners on base off singles to shortstop and third base, but could not cross the plate as game two headed into extra innings as well. In the top of the ninth, SNHU loaded the bases and Sylvester came in and caught a lineout to end the inning. Killebrew belted the game-winning bomb to center in the bottom of the ninth for the Raven victory.

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).