GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (5/4/22) – For the second straight season, the Franklin Pierce University softball team will faceoff with #6 seeded Assumption College in the second round, kicking off the Championship Weekend for the Northeast-10 Conference Softball Championship, hosted by Adelphi University in Garden City, New York.

The Ravens enter the weekend as the #3 seed in the NE10 standings, having earned a bye through the first round of play. Assumption advances after defeating #7 Bentley University in the opening round on Tuesday afternoon, besting the Falcons by a narrow 3-2 decision.

This season has been one to remember for Ravens softball, finishing with a 29-9 (17-9 NE10) overall record. With the teams 29 wins, the 2022 campaign set a new program record in wins, decisively passing their previous best 21 wins from last season.

The two teams last met a brief time ago, in a doubleheader that was hosted by Assumption on Friday, April 29^th. The afternoon produced a win for both sides, with the Ravens claiming a dominant 19-7 opening game victory, using a ten-run first inning to mercy-rule the Greyhounds. Assumption responded with their own win in game two, defeating the Ravens 6-2 through a full seven innings. 

Franklin Pierce's lineup included a trio of players with batting averages above .350, and an additional three others with averages of .316 or better. Sophomore outfielder Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) led the way for softball this season, finishing at the top of both the roster and the conference with a .426 average. Cangiano was also ranked second among both groups in total runs batted in, posting a total 40 RBI through 38 games played. Graduate Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) was the only player with more, finishing with 42 RBI as well as a team-leading 11 home runs on the season.

Franklin Pierce also had some first-year standouts come through this season, with newcomers Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Ariz.) and Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.) opening their collegiate careers with respectable numbers. Vorseth this season ended up with 42 total hits through 37 games, contributing two home runs and 20 RBI. As a shortstop this year, Vorseth also defended well with a .974 fielding percentage, totaling 63 putouts. Williams played in 36 games this season for the Ravens, ranking second on the team in stolen bases (14) while hitting at .321, with 23 RBI and a single home run.

From the circle, senior Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, Fla.) started in 15 games for the Ravens with 28 total appearances. Through 101.2 innings pitched, Primavera finished with an 11-5 record, with a 2.69 ERA, 55 strikeouts and six saves. Sophomore Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) had a breakout year with the Ravens, tossing 93.2 total innings to finish the season ranked 5^th in the NE10 in both wins (14) and ERA (1.79) through 22 appearances.

Entering the tournament, Assumption concludes what has been a rather hit or miss season, finishing with wins through four straight matchups, including their victory versus Franklin Pierce. After starting the season at 3-14 through their first 17 contests. the Greyhounds powered back in the mid-portion of theie spring campaign, winning six straight games to put their name back in the running for the playoffs. The Greyhounds have been led offensively this season by sophomore catcher Corin Mahan, who has batted at .342 this season with a pair of home runs, 36 RBI and 13 doubles. 

The semifinal bout between the Ravens and the Greyhounds will take place on Thursday, May 5th with the first pitch at Noon.