TUCSON, Ariz. (2/18/23) – After opening the day with a 13-5 loss to Simon Fraser University (Canada), the Franklin Pierce softball team got things going again with a dominant 9-1 victory over Georgian Court University to earn a split on day three of the Cactus Classic Tournament in Tucson, Arizona.

Entering the day 2-2, the Ravens stay even with a 3-3 overall record, while Simon Fraser improves to 3-6 on their season. Georgian Court additionally moves to 2-2 following the loss to Pierce.

GAME #1: v. Simon Fraser University

The Red Leafs wasted little time getting on the board first in the opening inning, quickly pulling ahead to a 3-0 advantage with each run scored on two Raven fielding errors. The Ravens would manage to secure a hit in each of the first three innings, but would be unable to slow the oncoming charge by the opposition, falling down to a 6-0 deficit through that span.

Franklin Pierce would finally answer the call in the top half of the fourth, with two runs scored with two outs. With baserunners at second and third, freshman Savannah Arreguin (Pacoima, Calif.) housed both with a single to left field, advancing all the way to second on the throw, making it a 6-2 game. However, the Red Leafs would have their own answer to that in the bottom half, and would pull ahead 7-2 entering what would be the final inning of the game.

To start out the sixth, the Ravens provided themselves with a glimmer of hope with three runs on two hits, as well as four Red Leaf errors. The first of the errors came off the bat off sophomore Ana Erikson (Temecula, Calif.), who turned a double following an overthrown ball at first base, scoring Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) from second. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, the Ravens were once again rewarded on a second throwing error to first following an infield single by Kierra Warrix (Indianapolis, Ind.), scoring Erikson from third to make it a 7-4 game. Entering as a pinch hitter, Hannah Wodecki (Southampton, Mass.) then sent a single up the middle to score the third run for the Ravens, bringing the score to within two on her second RBI of the season.

However, the Ravens would not be able to move any closer to Simon Fraser, and would hand over another six runs in the bottom half of the inning to end the game by mercy rule, 13-5.

From the circle, Savannah Arreguin (0-2) took the loss for Pierce with six runs allowed on three hits, tossing 3 innings in the effort. Junior Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) entered in relief, and pitched the final 1.2 innings with seven runs allowed on nine Red Leaf hits, striking out two batters. Arreguin would also finish 1-for-2 with two RBI's and two walks, leading the way for the Raven offense.

GAME #2: v. Georgian Court University

The Ravens rebounded in their second matchup of the day, facing off against regional foe Georgian Court University for the first time since last season's NCAA Tournament. This time around, Pierce would be the first to score in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run double to right field by junior Haley Bigwood (Athol, Mass.), putting the Ravens ahead 2-0 on the Lions.

After blanking the Lions through the next two innings, the Ravens would look to deal more damage at the plate in the bottom half of the third. With a runner in scoring position, Bigwood returned and belted a ball over the left field fence, boosting the Raven lead to 4-0. The offensive momentum would carry over into the bottom of the fourth inning, where the Ravens would explode for another three runs to make it an 8-0 contest. Directly after a failed scoring attempt from third with the bases loaded, junior Ashley Cangiano would double down with a shot to right center, scoring another two RBI. The final run of the bottom half would complete a sacrifice fly-out by Bigwood, which would score runner Kierra Warrix from third.

With the 7-0 lead in hand, both teams would come up empty in the fifth. To spoil the shutout bid, the Lions would finally get one across home plate on a scoring double, but would fail to score any beyond that. To add the finishing touches to the game two win, sophomore Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.) would make her way to third on a triple, scoring Bigwood from second base to make it 8-1. The final run would come shortly thereafter, as Ana Erikson  would reach first on a throwing error by the Georgian third baseman, scoring Williams to complete the 9-1 mercy rule victory.   

Junior Abbey Poirot (Winstead, Conn.) played the shut-down game as the starter in the circle, tossing all-six innings allowing just one run on four hits, also striking out one Lion batter to move to 1-0 on the season.