LAKEWOOD, N.J. (5/12/22) – On the opening day of the NCAA East Regional 2 competition, the Franklin Pierce University softball found themselves bested in a closely contested matchup with #3 Wilmington University (DE), falling to the Wildcats by a walk-off final score of 3-2 at host Georgia Court University Thursday afternoon. 

With the loss, the Ravens move to 29-11 on the season. Wilmington, with the triumph, moves to 35-18 on the year. 

The first run of the contest would finally arrive after three scoreless innings from both sides. In the top of the fourth inning, the Ravens broke the silence with a triple down the right field line from junior center fielder Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.). In the next at bat, freshman infielder Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Ariz.) got to work with a single into right field, plating the games first run for a 1-0 Ravens lead.

However, Wilmington countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, when freshman Gabbie Saucedo doubled to left field. She later plated the tying run on another double, this time to left center from sophomore Haley Downin, completing the side-by-side scoring play.

Jumping to the sixth inning, the Wildcats would eventually claim their first lead of the afternoon with a pair of runners in scoring position. Haley Downin continued to impress with her second RBI of the day, reaching first on a fielder's choice, with the Ravens unable to cut off the runner from third at home plate.

With the Ravens trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh, senior catcher Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) provided some hope with a triple down the right field line. With one out in the inning, Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.) capitalized on the tying opportunity with a shot to left center field, attempting to claim a double but unfortunately arriving at second too late for the sacrificial out.

Wilmington would deliver the final blow with no outs in the bottom half, following a quick pair of hits to place runners at the corners. Wildcats center fielder Taylor Gillis played the hero for Wilmington, walking it off with an RBI single to left field, finalizing the final score of 3-2.

Franklin Pierce starting pitcher Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) tossed a full six innings, allowing two runs on six hits with three walks. Senior Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, Fla.) allowed a single run, unearned, off of two hits in the final inning of relief duty.

In the winning effort, starter Kylee Gunkel pitched the complete game for Wilmington, tossing seven innings with two earned runs on seven hits allowed, adding in eight strikeouts for the victory.

Franklin Pierce softball returns to the field tomorrow to face #7 University of Bridgeport, set to begin at 1:30 PM.