TUCSON, Ariz. (2/20/23) – The Franklin Pierce softball team had a rough go of it on the second day of the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona, falling in five innings to opposite coast opponent Western Oregon, 9-1 to open the day, then narrowly dropping a 5-3 decision to Minnesota State-Crookston after pushing play to nine innings.

After starting out 2-0, the Ravens are now 2-2 on the season following the day's events. Western Oregon improved to 5-7 on the season, while Minnesota-Crookston moved even to 1-1.

GAME #1: v. Western Oregon University

The Ravens found themselves in an early 1-0 hole in the bottom of the first inning, after the Wolves scored a runner from second on a single to right center field. The next two innings would be a pitching duel, as Raven starter Abby Poirot (Winstead, Conn.) limited Western Oregon to one hit, striking out one batter.

After a quiet handful of innings, the Ravens finally got on the board on a solo homer to left center field by junior Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.), her second of the season. However, Pierce would have to settle for just the one run, as the next two batters would strike out looking. It was in the bottom half of the fourth where things took a turn for the worse.

Western Oregon jumped ahead to a 7-1 lead with six runs scored on four hits, forcing a pitching change midway through the onslaught. Defensive struggles also plagued the Ravens in the half inning, as the Wolves scored two of the runs off passed balls. Pierce would fail to find an answer in the upper half of the fifth, and would surrender another pair of runs to take the loss by mercy rule, 9-1.

Sophomore Abbey Poirot took the loss in the start for the Ravens, allowing five runs and four hits over 3.1 innings. Freshman Kierra Warrix (Indianapolis, Ind.) pitched in relief, giving up four runs on five hits over the final inning pitched.

GAME #2: v. Minnesota State-Crookston

The Raven offense would remain cold to begin the second contest of the afternoon, as batters would fall in one-two-three succession through the first three innings of play. In the upper half of the fourth, the Ravens would yield the game's first run to the Golden Eagles following a three-walk half inning, and would later fall into a 2-0 hall in the sixth inning.

The Ravens broke silence in the bottom of the sixth inning following a sacrifice fly-out to left center field by junior Haley Bigwood (Athol, Mass.) which scored baserunner Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.) from second base, cutting the deficit down to 2-1 entering the seventh inning. After retiring all three batters in the top of the seventh, the Ravens forced extra innings with a tying run senior Hailey Melchert (Lake Orion, Mich.).

In the eighth inning, both teams would take advantage of the free baserunners. Haley Bigwood would be the architect of the Ravens side, scoring the placed runner at second with a double to left field, once again pushing the action to another inning.

In the end, Minnesota-Crookston would secure the winning runs in the top of the ninth inning, pulling away to a 5-3 decision with a single and a triple at the plate.

From the circle, three pitchers saw action for the Ravens. Claiming the loss through four innings pitched was freshman Savannah Arreguin (Pacoima, Calif.), who surrendered just one run on three hits in her first collegiate start. Abbey Poirot pitched a pair of full innings, while Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) tossed through three, combining for four runs allowed on five hits.