MANCHESTER, N.H. (MAY 9, 2021) – The no. 7 regionally-ranked Franklin Pierce University softball team's 2021 season ended in the Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division Finals as they suffered two losses to no. 18 nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College in the best out of a three-game series, 2-0 in game one and 7-1 in game two.

With the losses, the Ravens year ends at 21-9 with their 21 victories the most during a single season in program history. The Hawks improve to 27-4 and advance to the NE10 Championship Finals where they will take on Southwest Division champion Adelphi University May 14-15 in a best of three championship series.

Pierce could only muster a combined six hits across both games. NE10 Northeast Division Pitcher of the Year Morgan Perry hurled a complete-game shutout in game one while McKenna Smith tossed a complete game in game two. Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) combined to go 2-for-4 across both contests with two singles, a walk, and a stolen base.

Game One: #18 Hawks 2, Ravens 0 (Final)

NE10 Northeast Division Pitcher of the Year Morgan Perry scattered two hits, two walks and punched out 12 batters in a complete-game shutout to improve to 16-0 on the season. Raven starter Samantha Sylvester (Morris, Conn.) was the tough-luck loser in the pitcher's duel hurling five innings allowing two runs – one earned to drop to 6-1 without striking out a batter.

The Hawks scored first in the bottom of the first. Kylie Fitzpatrick singled up the middle then moved up to second base via a passed ball. With two outs, Lauren Washburn singled up the middle to plate the first run of the contest at 1-0. Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) ended the frame making a leaping catch on a liner to first base to rob Gracie O'Hara of potential extra bases.

In the top of the second, Perry worked around a leadoff walk and proceeded to strike out the side swinging. In the next bottom half, the leadoff batter for the Hawks reached via a three-base fielding error by the Ravens. Abbie Murrell singled to the pitcher and moved to second off a fielder's choice RBI putout shortstop to first. Sylvester induced a groundout to keep the runner at third as Saint Anselm led 2-0 following two innings.

Konopinski got the first hit off Perry when she singled through the right side in the away half of the third. Konopinski was replaced by Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) on first due to a force out then Perry set down Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) looking to end the inning. Sylvester took the circle for the bottom of the third and worked around two singles to retire the side and keep it at a 2-0 Saint Anselm margin.

Saint Anselm had a runner at second after a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Erin Thompson smoked a liner to Madi Killebrew (Dana Point, Calif.) at third base. The graduate student made a leaping catch and then doubled off the runner to end the host's scoring chance.

Pierce could only muster one more hit off a dominant Perry who allowed a few extra baserunners off fielding errors as she completed the seven-inning shutout.

Game Two: #18 Hawks 7, Ravens 1 (Final)

Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) got the ball in game two for the Ravens. She hurled five innings allowing four runs – three earned off four hits, three walks with three strikeouts in the loss (11-2). Smith earned the W with the complete game eight strikeout performance.

Killebrew was the lone offense for the Ravens belting a solo homer in a 1-for-3 effort. Hinckley, Martinez, and Konopinski recorded the other three hits for Pierce.

The game was scoreless through the first three innings. The Ravens had an opportunity to open the scoring in the bottom of the third when Konopinski legged out an infield single to third with two outs and promptly stole second base. Lopez then popped out to end the inning.

The Hawks got to Zemaitis in the top of the fourth. A leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt coupled with a fielding miscue by Pierce set the stage for Kat Stackrow who bashed a three-run johnson to left field which put the designated away team ahead 3-0 in the middle innings. Killebrew got one back immediately with a one-out solo shot to left, her sixth homer of the year to cut into the deficit at 3-1.

Back-to-back doubles to start the top of the fifth upped the Hawks margin to 4-1 which was Zemaitis's last inning of work. In the top of the sixth, Saint Anselm tacked on three insurance runs, one-off a sacrifice and the other two via a Fitzpatrick single into the right-centerfield gap.

Pierce had one more shot to slice into the margin in the bottom of the seventh. Hinckley led off with a single and Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.)  worked a walk with no outs to put runners at first and second. Smith then struck out the next two batters and got a pop out to short to ice the contest.

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).