MANCHESTER, N.H. (4/19/23) – On a Wednesday afternoon the Franklin Pierce University Softball team kept things close to home with a trip to Manchester, New Hampshire to face conference rival Saint Anslem University. As the two teams clashed in a NE10 doubleheader, Pierce would drop the opener by a score of 2-0 but come back to win the closer by a score of 15-8.

With the split, Franklin Pierces moves to a 26-15 overall record (10-6 NE10) while Saint Anselm moves to a 19-12-1 overall record (9-6-1 NE10).

GAME #1

In the first inning, the Hawks would strike first as second baseman Kylie Fitzpatrick hit an RBI  double to left field to bring one run home. Two innings later, Saint Anslem would plate another run on a RBI single from third baseman Gracie O'Hara.

In the sixth, with the score still at 2-0, the Ravens would have a chance to answer back as sophomore Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.) would double to right center. Then, junior Haley Bigwood (Athol, Mass.) would beat out the throw for an infield single, which would lead to senior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) reaching on a fielder's choice, with Bigwood out at second. This would bring up sophomore Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Ariz.) with  runners at first and third with two outs, leading to a walk to load the bases once again for Pierce. To end the top of the inning, senior Hailey Melchert (Lake Orion, Mich.) would be forced into a groundout, leaving the runners stranded.

When all was said and done, Saint Anslem would claim the afternoon opener by the 2-0 final score, rallying behind a strong performance in the circle from pitcher Haile Hicks. The Hawk junior would successfully shutout the Ravens offense, only allowing three hits and three walks while striking out six Pierce batters.

In the circle for Franklin Pierce was junior Abby Poirot (Winstead, Conn.), who made her twelfth start of the season pitching through three innings allowing two runs on two hits and two walks, striking out three. Freshman Savannah Arreguin (Pacoima, Calif.) would spend some time in the circle as a reliever, and would toss through three innings not allowing a hit, run, or walk while striking out two.

GAME #2

Likewise, to the first game, the Hawks would jump out to the early lead. This time it would be first baseman Sam Wiberg going yard with a three-run bomb over the left-center field fence.

However, trailing 3-0 was not a problem for the Raven offense this go-round, as they would explode for nine runs in the top of the second. To start the scoring rally, freshman Hannah Wodecki (Southampton, Mass.) would single through the left side, plating two runs. Then freshman Savannah Arreguin would hit an RBI double to left field to bring home Wodecki, tying the game at 3-3. Later on, with the bases loaded and no outs, sophomore Bella Williams would be hit by a pitch to bring in a fourth run for Pierce, giving them their first lead of the day. A batter later, junior Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) would blast a ball over the right center field fence for her second grand slam of the season, boosting the Raven lead to 8-3.  To cap-off the scoring streack, Hannah Wodecki would deliver yet again with an RBI single up the middle.  

In addition to recently becoming the program's all-time leader in RBI, Cangiano's grand slam officially labeled her the program's all-time leader in single season RBI. 

Saint Anselm would respond in the bottom half of the inning as catcher Alyssa Wironen would connect for a solo shot over the fence in left field. A few batters later, right fielder Stephanie Tardungo would hit an RBI groundout to third base, cutting the Ravens' lead to four runs at 9-5. The Hawks would then keep on challenging the Ravens with another three runs in the bottom of the third, making it a one-run ballgame, 9-8.

In the fifth inning the Ravens would add insurance to their score as Ashley Cangiano would smack a ball down the right field line, collecting her second grand slam of the afternoon as an inside the park homer. This would be immediately followed by a solo shot over the left field fence from junior Haley Bigwood, bringing the score to 14-8.

As a resilt, Cangiano would also break the program's single game RBI record, finishing the game with eight in total. 

In the sixth, Franklin Pierce would add one more by way of a sacrifice fly from senior Hailey Melchert, which would prove to be enough for the Ravens to claim the game two victory by a score of 15-8.

In the circle, junior Samantha Sylvester (Morris, Conn.) would pitch through 1.1 innings allowing five runs on five hits in her eighth start of the season. Savannah Arreguin would return in relief for her second appearance of the day, additionally pitching through 1.1 innings while allowing three runs on six hits. Junior Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) would come in to limit the damage, tossing through 3.1 innings to keep the opponent off the board with three hits and one strikeout.

The Franklin Pierce University Softball team will continue Northeast-10 Conference play this Friday, April 21^st for a doubleheader matchup at Le Moyne College. Game starts are set for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.