Rindge, N.H. (3/27/22) – It was another successful weekend for Franklin Pierce softball, extending their program best start to the season while capping off a complete sweep of back-to-back double-headers with another pair of wins on Sunday afternoon, cruising past Stonehill College 4-3 and 4-2 in respective games.

With the duo of victories, the Ravens remain undefeated and improve to 14-0 this season, with Stonehill dropping to 4-10 on the year.

Game 1

The Skyhawks got the bats going early on and opened the scoring in the first inning with an infield single with runners at the corners. The Ravens would respond promptly in the bottom half off a sacrifice fly-out by sophomore Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, MA), scoring junior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) who stole third base.

The two teams would go scoreless through the second, third and fourth innings, with Stonehill returning aggressively at the top of the fifth, scoring two runs off of some defensive miscues by Franklin Pierce to take a 3-1 lead. However, the momentum shift proved to be just as quick the other way with Franklin Pierce coming alive in the sixth inning. Freshman Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ) set the tone with a double towards the gab in left center field, and found herself at third base off a sacrifice fly from Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, MA). Cangiano secured her second RBI of the game with an infield single, scoring Williams to bring the score to within one.

Two batters later, first year infielder Lita Vorseth (Mesa, AZ) drove in the tying run with a double down the left field line, advancing a runner to third base while scoring Cangiano. The Ravens wanted more after a Stonehill pitching change, swapping in Haley Bigwood (Athol, MA) to pinch hit. As a result, Bigwood hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field, putting the Ravens ahead for the first time on the afternoon. Exiting with the one run lead, the Ravens would sit down three of four batters faced to end the game and complete the late comeback.

Three different pitchers made appearances in the first game, with sophomore Abbey Poirot (Winstead, CT) getting her second start. Through four innings pitched, Poirot struck-out one batter while allowing six hits and only a single run. Junior Madison Labrie (New Ipswich, N.H.) made a relief appearance in the top of the fifth inning, and would go on to pitch through the sixth as well, allowing 4 hits and two runs scored. Second year pitcher Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, AZ) returned to the circle for the third time on the weekend and pitched the final inning to save the come-back win for Franklin Pierce. With the Ravens scoring in the sixth inning, Labrie snags her second win of the season (2-0).

Game 2

Franklin Pierce got the ball rolling early on in the second half of the Sunday double-header, scoring the games first two runs in the first inning of play. With both players hitting singles to put runners on, Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) and Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ) used a double steal to turn it into a scoring opportunity for the Ravens. With one out, Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, MA) hit an innocent looking ball towards the pitcher, which turned into a double off a throwing error which scored both runners for an early 2-0 lead.  

The Skyhawks would cut the Ravens lead in half the next inning on a single play that saw an out at first base, a runner advancing to third, and a score from second base. This would set the table for a quiet mid-section of the second game, with the score remaining 2-1 until the top of the fifth. Stonehill would score a tying run off an out at second base with two outs, with the run crossing home plate before the play at second to end the upper half of the inning.

Franklin Pierce fired back in the bottom half, with speedy baserunner Molly Magnette (Ayer, MA) giving the Ravens back their lead off a throwing error to second base from the Skyhawks left fielder. Directly after, graduate Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, MA) picked up right where she left off and hit a center field solo home run to make it 4-2 with two to play.

The Ravens defense would continue to limit the Stonehill chances with a quick top of the sixth, and an even quicker top of the seventh to finalize their 4-2 win and complete the weekend sweep.

Senior pitcher Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, FL) got her second start of the weekend, pitching four innings before being relieved by sophomore Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, AZ). Improving to 6-0 on the season with an ERA of 0.96 and 38 total strikeouts, Gonzalez finished the final three innins with 3 strikeouts, 1 walk and 2 hits allowed. Primavera surrendered just 3 hits and struck out 2 batters in four innings played. 

Softball will be back at home for more NE10 action this coming weekend, with back to back double-headers versus New Haven on Saturday and Southern Connecticut State on Sunday, both matchups set to start at 12 P.M E.T.