Manchester, NH (April 12, 2022) – Looking to continue their strong play through 2022 the Franklin Pierce University softball team travelled to Manchester, NH and the campus of Southern New Hampshire University for a Northeast-10 Conference double header against the Penmen. Strong pitching in game one from sophomore Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) and senior Abby Primavera (Spring Hill, Fla.) lifted the Ravens to a 4-2 win while game two brought lots of offense for SNHU in the 10-4 decision.

With the split Franklin Pierce picks up win number 20 on the year moving their record to 20-2 (10-2 NE10) while Southern New Hampshire stays even at 14-14 (8-4 NE10).

Game One:

The offense started early for the Ravens with a double from junior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, NJ) to lead off the game. Add in a fielding error by the Penmen third baseman and the Ravens had runners on first and second with no out for the power hitting graduate student Gina Hinkley (Lancaster, Mass.). Hinkley sent a ball into right field allowing Konopinski to show off the jets and score from second.

Franklin Pierce was shutout for the rest of the inning despite having a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs, but added another run in the top of the third to double the lead. This time freshman Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.) singled then reached second on a fielding error the next at bat. With two on a two out fellow freshman Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Ariz.) singled home Williams making it 2-0 Ravens.

SNHU brought the score back to within one in the bottom of the inning. With sophomore Alyssa Dimauro standing on second base outfielder Bryn Garczynski hit a double to center field bringing her teammate across home plate.

A couple of insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning the first on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) and the other on a single by Vorseth added a cushion for the Ravens defense.

Gonzalez 4.2 innings and picked up a pair of strikeouts in her 9^th win of the season keeping her record perfect while Primavera entered for the final 2.1 innings shutting the door for her 5^th save of the season. Sophomore Leine (4-4) McKechnie tossed 4.1 innings in the start only allowing a pair of runs (1 ER) in the loss.

Game Two:

The Ravens struck first again this time in the top of the second inning on the back of another SNHU fielding error this one out in right field scoring senior Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.), but the Penmen tied the game an inning later in the bottom of the third. Garczynski crossed home plate thanks to a left field single by Bella Dickenson.

The bottom of the fifth inning was the difference maker for SNHU putting seven runs on the board starting with a three run homer over the wall in center field by graduate student Chloe Griffen. Then, a single from Emily Carbonnneau brought home two more before a bases loaded single and walk brought home the 6^th and 7^th runs of the half inning.

A trio of runs in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a three run blast from Hinkley brought the score closer, but it wasn't enough as the Ravens would end up falling 10-2 at the end of the game.

Primavera (8-1) earned the loss her first of the season allowing 4 runs in 4.1 innings of work while Griffin (4-4) earned the win on the mound to go along with her 3 RBI in the batter's box.

Next up for Franklin Pierce is a trip to New York and a double header against NE10 opponent Adelphi University on Friday April 15^th. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. for game one, and 4 p.m. for game two.