Rindge, N.H. (4/24/22) - The Franklin Pierce University softball team concluded their 2022 home schedule and celebrated the senior members of the team with a doubleheader matchup on Sunday afternoon, playing host to Le Moyne College. A three run fourth inning lifted the Ravens to a 5-2 opening game victory over the Dolphins, but a rebound effort defensively from Le Moyne in the closing game silenced the Ravens offense in a 2-0 shutout loss for the split.  

Franklin Pierce holds strong with a 25-7 (13-7) overall record following the split, finishing the regular season with a 12-4 record on home turf. Le Moyne climbed to a 17-19 (9-11 NE10) record through the afternoon.

Game One:

Le Moyne opened the scoring in the early stages of the opening inning, hopping to a 2-0 lead off of a two-RBI home run from senior catcher Cassidy Barrett. However, the Ravens got to work just as quickly in the bottom half of the inning with a single from Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.), which was promptly followed up with a double from sophomore Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.). With two outs in the inning, junior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) delivered the tying runs with an infield single to third base, using speed to beat out the throw while drawing the attention away from home plate.

Through the next three innings of play, the Ravens would tighten their hold defensively by limiting the Dolphins to a single hit and a pair of runners left on base, before shifting gears back to the offensive effort in the bottom of the fourth. With runners in scoring position, a pair of consecutive doubles from Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) and Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.) helped the Ravens along to their first lead of the afternoon, which would also prove to be enough through the final three innings.

The Ravens continued to hold the Dolphins down defensively through the remaining half of the opening contest, allowing just four hits with four batters left stranded to claim the 5-2 victory.

Sophomore starter Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) claimed the win and moves to 13-1 overall on the season after giving up two runs on four hits with six strikeouts across six innings. Senior Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, Fla.) closed out the game and earned her team leading sixth save of the season, closing down the Dolphins offense in the final inning with one hit allowed. Le Moyne starter Laura Bennet pitched through five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits while tossing five strikeouts in the loss.

Game Two:

Le Moyne rediscovered it's first inning rhythm, once again jumping to a 2-0 lead in the early going. With runners at second and third and two outs, senior Victoria Catalano found the gap in left center field with a double to the fence, sending home two RBI's for the lead.

The bats came alive for Franklin Pierce in the second inning, beginning with another infield single from Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.). Later on in the order, freshman Ana Erikson (Temecula, Calif.) also found success in the infield after a mishandled ball from the Dolphins pitcher, slowing the play down enough for a single. Le Moyne eventually would claim the final out in the inning before the Ravens would get a chance to find the scoresheet.

Defensively, the Dolphins held the Ravens to a single hit through the third and fourth innings, until the Ravens found themselves in another bases loaded situation with two outs in the fifth. A pair of singles from Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) and Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) set the table for the Ravens, with the final play resulting off a pitch hitting Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.). The Dolphins would remain relentless in their shutdown campaign, finding the final out and once again escaping the bases loaded situation. The Ravens would go hitless through the final two innings.

Senior Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, Fla.) tossed a full seven innings in the effort, allowing two runs on eight total hits with two strikeouts, moving to 9-4 this season with the loss. On the winning side, Le Moyne starter Lindsey Dobbs improves to 2-2 this season, pitching five scoreless innings with six hits allowed.  Laura Bennet returned to the circle for the final inning, earning the save with no hits allowed and four strikeouts.

Softball will hit the road to finish up the regular season, with three doubleheaders scheduled for this coming week. Their first stop will be a matchup at Stonehill College this Tuesday, April 25^th at 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM.