Rindge, N.H. (4/23/22) – Franklin Pierce Softball saw both ends of the spectrum in a afternoon doubleheader matchup versus the College of Saint Rose at Bisaccia Field on Saturday afternoon. In the opening game of the twin bill, the Ravens offense put on a clinic with an electric 12-0 mercy-rule triumph, but struggled to find a rhythm in the closing contest with a 5-1 loss to the Golden Knights.

After the Saturday split, the Ravens move to 24-6 (12-6) on the season. The Golden Knights move to 12-25 (8-12) in their spring campaign.

Game One:

The Ravens struck first in the early going with a pair of earned runs in the bottom of the first inning, delivered off of a double to left field from junior outfielder Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.). Entering the second inning, the Ravens defense limited the Golden Knights to three straight infield ground outs, sending themselves to what would be a decisive third inning.

Franklin Pierce opened the flood gates and took complete control in the bottom half of the inning by scoring ten runs on six hits. After starting near the top of the order, the Ravens quickly loaded the bases, resulting in a run scoring after sophomore Haley Bigwood (Athol, Mass.) was hit by a pitch. Upon advancing to third off of the last play, Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) then got a free pass to home plate after an off-target pitch got away from Saint Rose catcher Ellen Fuda, keeping two runners in scoring position.

With their lead extended to 4-0 with no outs in the inning, Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) boosted the offense with a double to deep center field, scoring the two runners. Through four more batters, the Ravens found themselves with the bases loaded once again with two outs. The next at bat brought up graduate Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.), who seized the opportunity by belting a grand slam to left field, her ninth home run of the season. To finish the inning, Melissa Konopinski returned to the plate and sent a long drive to the fence in left center, turning on the jets and crossing home plate before anyone could notice with an inside the park home run, additionally adding an RBI on the same play to wrap up the offensive output at 12-0.

The Ravens continued to hold Saint Rose off the scoresheet, and ended the game with the five-inning mercy rule.

From the circle, Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) received the start and tossed through 4.0 innings, allowing a single hit while striking out two batters for her 12^th win of the season. Sophomore Abbey Poirot (Winstead, Conn.) also contributed to the victorious effort, pitching the final inning while also sitting down a pair of batters.

Game Two:

The second contest had somewhat of a different flavor for Franklin Pierce, as the Ravens surrendered two runs to the first four batters faced. For the Golden Knights, the early scoring resulted from an RBI double to left field from junior outfielder Morgan Tyrell, who then scored off of a single to right field off the bat of senior Savanna Liverio-Tyler.

The third inning provided some offensive success for the Knights as well on the afternoon, with another trio of runs to advance their lead to 5-0. Liverio-Tyler struck gold with an RBI double to the gap in left center, eventually creating a bases loaded jam for the Ravens. Through the next two at- bats, the Ravens would walk in a run, and allow another resulting from a hit batter.

To lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) sent her second home run on the day to left field, providing the only run for the Ravens with the solo shot. However, Saint Rose would double down defensively and limit the options for Franklin Pierce, limiting the Ravens to two hits and five runners left on base for the remainder of the game.

The Ravens worked with a trio of pitchers in the closing game of the doubleheader. Senior Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, Fla.) began the action in the circle for game two, pitching through 2.1 innings with seven hits, five runs and three strikeouts. In relief, Abbey Poirot (Winstead, Conn.) found herself back in the circle with 3.2 innings pitched, two hits and two strikeouts. To finish out the game, Madison Labrie (New Ipswich, N.H.) entered in the seventh inning, posting a single strikeout, walk and hit allowed.

The Ravens conclude their regular season home schedule tomorrow afternoon before hitting the road for eight straight road matchups to finish off the regular season. Softball returns to action tomorrow for Senior Day, and a doubleheader matchup against Le Moyne College at 12 PM and 2 PM.