RINDGE, N.H. (MAY 6, 2021) – The no. 7 regionally-ranked Franklin Pierce University softball program used contributions from the bottom of the lineup and a complete game shutout from senior Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) as the Ravens shutout Assumption University 2-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference Semifinals Thursday evening at Bisaccia Field.

With the win, the Ravens move to 21-7 on the year while the Greyhounds season ends at 16-10. Franklin Pierce will head to no. 18 nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College on Sunday for a best of three-game series in the NE10 Northeast Division Finals.

Zemaitis (11-1) hurled her fourth complete-game shutout of the season. She threw 74 of her 102 pitches for strikes and scattered two hits while walking two batters. She struck out the side twice in the game and retired six of the first nine batters via strikeouts. Her 11 K's gave her the 16th double-digit strikeout game of her career.

The lower third of the Ravens lineup, the seven through nine hitters combined to go 4-for-8 with two RBI, two doubles and a steal. Left fielder Ari Rodriguez (Clinton, Mass.) was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a double, designated player Jenna Murray (Wilbraham, Mass.) turned in a 1-for-3 RBI performance and center fielder Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) was a perfect 2-for-2 with a steal of second base.

Assumption starter Mia Nowicki was a hard-luck loser as she fell to 7-5 scattering five hits and three walks striking out four batters and issuing three free passes.

Zemaitis took the circle and used 15 pitches to strike out the side in the top of the first sandwiching a swinging strikeout between two looking. The goose eggs continued for both sides and Zemaitis punched out the side in the away half of the third throwing 12 pitches – nine for strikes to induce three swinging strikeouts. Six of her first nine batters were set down by way of the K.

Konopinski slapped an opposite field single into left center for the contests first hit during the bottom of the third. With two down, she moved up to second after stealing the base on the first pitch of Allie Martinez's (Upland, Calif.) at-bat. Martinez worked a walk setting up a first and second situation for Madi Killebrew (Dana Point, Calif.). Killebrew hacked at the first pitch and lined out weakly to second to end the Raven threat.

Zemaitis allowed her first batter to reach base via a four-pitch walk in the top of the fourth inning. The damage was limited as Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) made her third putout of the inning, the second in foul territory to keep the game scoreless at 0-0.

The Ravens cracked the scoring column in the bottom of the second. With two away, Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.) dumped in an opposite-field single to left, she stole second base on the next pitch and came around to score on Rodriguez double into the left-center field gap. Rodriguez advanced to third on the throw to the plate. Murray dug into the box and lined a single to center which plated Rodriguez to expand the Raven edge to 2-0. Konopinski continued her opposite-field approach and grounded a ball just inside the third-base bag for a double keeping the Raven threat alive. Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) grounded out to end the frame.

Assumption got their first hit of the contest in the top of the fifth off a line-drive single to center by Corin Mahan. Zemaitis worked around the base knock and punched out the ensuing two batters swinging. They attempted a rally with their last at-bats. Alyssa Beaton worked a walk then Alyssa Bialakis hit a bounding ball that just squeaked through the middle. Mckenzie Richards sacrificed bunted the ball to move up both runners to scoring position. Zemaitis struck out Mahan on a ball out of the zone for the second out. Summer Sheerin pinch-hit for the Greyhounds last chance, she worked a nine-pitch at-bat before lining out to right to end the ballgame.

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).