Waltham, MA (4/10/22) – In their first road doubleheader action of the season, Franklin Pierce University (19-1, 7-1 NE10) swept host Bentley University (11-11, 1-5 NE10) with a pair of four-run victories, defeating the Falcons by final scores of 6-2 in game one, and 5-1 in game two. 

Game One:

The opening contest got off to a quiet start, with both teams going scoreless through the first three innings of play. However, the Ravens broke the silence in a big way at the top half of the fourth inning, off a two-run double to left field from freshman Lita Vorseth (Mesa, AZ), with both runners in scoring position.

The noise only got louder from the Ravens in the final two innings, beginning with a single up the middle from right fielder Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, MA) to start the top of the sixth. Cangiano then stole second, and with some luck found herself at third base off a passed ball, setting up freshman Ana Erikson (Temecula, CA) for the next scoring play. Erikson finished the play with a single to the opposite field, giving the Ravens a 3-1 lead entering the bottom half of the sixth. As they had before, Bentley would close the gap once again off a double from Ella Hillier, scoring a runner from second to make it 3-2 heading into the final inning.  

To say the least, the Ravens dominated the final inning, putting the game out of reach with three total runs scored on two hits to secure the winning 6-2 lead. Junior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.)  set the tone with a lead-off triple to right field, which was the third of the day for the team, and her fifth this season. Two batters later, graduate student Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, MA) found some fortune on a pop-fly to left field that got lost in the sun, scoring Konopinski from third. For good measure, Ashley Cangiano returned to the plate and added another triple, this time to right field, and would cross home plate on a sacrifice fly-out to wrap up the offense for game one.  

From the circle, sophomore Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, AZ) collected her eighth win of the season (8-0) with two strikeouts against the Falcons, allowing six hits. Senior Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, FL) entered in the sixth inning, earning her fourth save of the season in relief.

Game Two:

The second game's first run came as the result of a chaotic sequence in the top of the second inning. On a double steal attempt, along with freshman Lita Vorseth (Mesa, AZ), sophomore Haley Bigwood (Athol, MA) crossed home plate on an error from the Bentley catcher, who recovered in time to get a throw off to catch Vorseth at third.  

Bella Williams came up big for the Ravens in the second contest, starting in the fifth inning on a base hit to right field, scoring two RBI's to put the Ravens ahead 3-1. After a scoreless sixth inning from both teams, Franklin Pierce got back to work in the seventh off a single from Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, CA). Returning to the top of the order, Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J) got a free pass to second on an infield error by the Falcon's second baseman, also advancing pinch runner Molly Magnette (Ayer, MA) to third base. Williams capped off the night with a triple to left field, scoring both runners (unearned) to establish the 5-1 final score.

Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, FL) and Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, AZ) swapped spots in the second game, with Primavera getting the start in the circle. Also collecting her eighth win on the season (8-0), Primavera pitched through five total innings, allowing six hits while striking out one batter. Gonzalez, who entered in the sixth inning, pitched through the final two innings, also claiming a single strikeout.  

Softball remains on the road this week and will look to keep things rolling with another doubleheader matchup this Tuesday, April 12^th against in-state rival Southern New Hampshire University starting at 3PM.