COLCHESTER, V.T (4/10/23) – On a beautiful Monday afternoon, the Franklin Pierce University softball team worked up a twin bill sweep over Northeast-10 opponent Saint Michael's College, with winning scores of 6-0 and 7-2 at Doc Jacobs Field.

The pair of wins improves Pierce softball to a 22-11 (6-2 NE10) overall record, while Saint Michael's drops to 10-14 (3-5 NE10) overall.

GAME #1

In the top of the first, the Raven offense would start out hot as sophomore Bella Williams (Phoenix,Ariz.) drove in the first run of the day with a RBI double to left-center field. Shortly after in the second inning, Pierce would add another on a solo blast over the left field fence from senior Hailey Melchert (Lake Orion, Mich.), bringing the score to 2-0.

Later on in the top of the fourth, it would be Melchert once again on an error by Purple Knights center fielder Hope Hiscock, allowing her to reach first and drive home senior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) to further the Pierce lead to 3-0.

Two innings later, Melchert would deliver again with two runners on as she hit a sacrifice fly-out to right field, bringing home the lead runner for a 4-0 advantage for the visitors. Junior Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) would continue the scoring rally on a two RBI single to the gap in left-center, which would be enough for Pierce to claim the victory by a score of 6-0.

It is the third time this season that the Ravens have shut out an opponent.

In the circle, junior Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) made her made her eighth start of the year, tossing five innings with no runs allowed on four hits and one walk while striking out three, improving to 7-3 with the win. Junior Abby Poirot (Winstead, Conn.) assist in the effort, relieving Gonzalez of the final two innings while shutting down the opponent with no runs on no hits, with a pair of both walks and strikeouts.

GAME #2

The Purple Knights would strike first in game two as Angelica Johns drove an RBI infield single to plate one in the first inning. However, the Ravens promptly return fire in the top of the second when freshman Hannah Wodecki (Southampton, Mass.) connected with a double to left-center field, scoring the equalizer to knot it up at 1-1.

Angelica Johns would return to help Saint Michael's reclaim the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring a runner on an RBI single directly up the middle make the score 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, with bases loaded, junior Susannah Campos (Lemoore,Calif.) would reach first safely on an error by Purple Knights third baseman Kaylee Morey, scoring two runs in the process to give Pierce its first lead of game two, 3-2. To keep the ball rolling in the inning, freshman Andie Anderson (Phoenix,Ariz.) then connected for an RBI groundout, and Bella Williams would deliver a run with a double to give the Ravens a sudden 5-2 lead.

In the sixth, Pierce would add even more insurance on the scoreboard by way of an RBI single from Ashley Cangiano, only to see one more cross the plate in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Anna Erikson (Temecula, Calif.). From there, the score would be finalized to confirm the Monday sweep for the Ravens.

In the circle, freshman Savannah Arreguin (Pacoima, Calif.) made her ninth start of the season and worked through three innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with one strikeout. Junior Abby Poirot would enter for her second relief appearance of the day, tossing four innings with no runs allowed on three hits, one walk, and two strikeouts to earn the win (6-3).

It's a quick turnaround for Pierce Softball, who returns home to host in-conference, in-state rival Southern New Hampshire on Tuesday, April 11^th for a doubleheader set for 3:00pm and 5:00pm starts.