WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS (4/29/2022) – Franklin Pierce University Softball traveled to Worcester State to play the Assumption Greyhounds in a doubleheader matchup with major playoff implications on the line for both teams. Heading into this doubleheader matchup, Franklin Pierce was tied for third place in the Northeast-10 Conference with Southern New Hampshire and Pace University. This season, Franklin Pierce needs to win the rest of its games to clinch the third seed for the Northeast-10 playoffs. The Ravens had a ten-run first inning entourage in game one against Assumption, and the Ravens ended up winning in five innings, 19-7. In game two between these two teams, the Greyhounds responded with some great pitching and were able to win 6-2 over Franklin Pierce. 

After the split, Franklin Pierce moves to 27-9 (15-9 NE10), with Assumption moving to 15-26 (11-13 NE10). 

Game One: 

The Ravens went on a hitting rampage in the top of the first inning, where they scored ten runs to take an early 10-0 lead. Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Massachusetts) started things off for the Ravens when she singled to left field, which allowed Melissa Konopinski (Bulter, New Jersey) to score from third. The next batter up for the Ravens, Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Massachusetts), had a 2 RBI single to make it 3-0 Franklin Pierce. The runs continued to pour thanks to the Ravens being hit by pitches, being walked by the Assumption pitcher, and costly errors by the Greyhounds. Allie Martinez (Upland, California) singled to right field, which allowed Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Arizona) to score from third to make it 10-0. 

Not to be denied, Assumption rallied back in the bottom of the first inning and scored five runs of their own to cut the lead in half. It was a turn of events and a shocker to the Ravens as they now needed to maintain their lead throughout the remainder of game one. Summer Sheerin doubled to left-center field, and that allowed for two runners to score to make 10-2. Later on in the inning, Kali Scirocco homered to left field, and it was a three-run home run to make it 10-5. 

In the top of the third inning, the Ravens responded with four runs of their own. Cangiano started things off with a 2 RBI single up the middle, allowing Vorseth and Konopinski to score to make it 12-5. Martinez then reached on fielder's choice, and that is when Hinckley scored to extend the Ravens lead. A few plays later, the leadoff hitter Bella Williams (Phoenix, Arizona) singled up the middle, allowing Cangiano to score to make it 14-5 Franklin Pierce. In the bottom of the third, the Greyhounds grabbed two runs of their own to cut the lead to 14-7. The Ravens then scored five more runs in the top of the fourth inning, which sealed the win for the Ravens. 

Abby Poirot (Winstead, Connecticut) started in the circle for the fifth time this season and pitched 2.2 innings, surrendering seven runs on nine hits, including a home run in the first inning, and struck out two Greyhound batters.  Madison Labrie (New Ipswich, New Hampshire) pitched 2.1 innings in relief, where she allowed two hits, no runs, one walk, and struck out one batter. She faced ten batters. Poirot got her second win of the 2022 season. 

Game Two: 

It was a completely different game for the Ravens in game two, where the bats went cold, and it was difficult for them to get anything going on offense. The Greyhounds took control of the game in the third inning, and they could run away with the victory. 

For the Ravens, Konopinski started scoring this game in the top of the second inning when she singled to left field and got an RBI single, which allowed Williams to score to make it 1-0 Franklin Pierce. In the bottom of the third inning, the Greyhounds climbed right back and tied the game at 1 when Corin Mahan doubled to left-center field, allowing her teammate Jordan Dwyer to score from third. A few plays later, Mackenzie Bruggeman filed out to the left-field, which allowed Lauren Geremia to score and give Assumption a 2-1 lead. Mahan scored thanks to Sheerin hitting a single up the middle to make it 3-1 Assumption. The Ravens were trying to crawl back in this game, and they did just that in the top of the fifth inning when Hinckley cut the deficit on a sacrifice fly out to center field, which allowed Konopinski to score. 

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Scirocco doubled to left-center field, and she got a 2 RBI double which allowed her teammates Sheerin and Habib to score and make it 5-2 Assumption. The Greyhounds scored the game's final run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mahan singled, and Dwyer scored on a Franklin Pierce error in left field. 

Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, Florida) started game two in the circle for the Ravens. This was her 15th start this season, and she pitched 4.1 innings. She gave up eight hits, five runs, three walks, and struck out three batters. She faced 25 batters and could not get the win for the Ravens. Labrie came in to pitch the final 1.2 innings in relief, where she allowed two hits, one run, one walk, and struck out three batters. She faced eight batters. 

The Ravens have one final doubleheader on April 30th as they wrap up the 2022 regular season against American International College. The opening game of the doubleheader starts at 1 pm, with the closing game starting at 3 pm.