SYRACUSE, N.Y (4/21/23) - On Friday afternoon, the No. 5 regionally ranked Franklin Pierce University softball team split a conference doubleheader against Le Moyne College on Friday afternoon, dropping the first game by a score of 8-7 and coming back to win the nightcap by a score of 7-4.

With the swap, Pierce softball moves to a 27-16 overall record (11-7 NE10) while the Dolphins move to a 21-18 overall record (10-8 NE10).

GAME #1

The Ravens would jump out to the early 1-0 in the first by way of an RBI single to left field from junior Haley Bigwood (Athol, Mass.).  It would not last long as the Dolphins would answer with four of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Their runs would come via two straight long balls, a three-run shot from first baseman McKenzie Bergdoll and a solo shot from third baseman Frankie Larobardiere.

In the second, Le Moyne would add on another run to their lead on an RBI single from right fielder Alyssa Dybacz.

An inning later, Franklin Pierce would cut the Dolphin lead by two as sophomore Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Ariz.) singled to plate one and freshman Hannah Wodecki (Southampton, Mass.) singled to right center to bring another run home making the score 5-3.

In the fourth, the tying run would arrive in a big way as junior Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) would blast a two run shot over the left field fence for her ninth homer of the season.

 In the fifth, the Ravens would take the lead back as  Hannah Wodecki would reach first safely on the error by Le Moyne second baseman Dominique Rinaldi giving enough time for one runner to come across home plate.

An inning later, Pierce would cushion their lead as senior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) drove an RBI double to left center, bringing the score to 7-5. In the bottom half, the Dolphins would make it a one run game as Alyssa Dybacz would hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Le Moyne would walk it off on a base hit to score two from pinch hitter Jillian Dunn.

Making her thirteenth start in the circle, junior Abby Poirot (Winstead, Conn.) would pitch through five innings allowing five runs of six hits and three walks while also striking out three batters. In relief, junior Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) would toss through one inning allowing three runs on seven hits taking the loss (10-5).

GAME #2

Likewise to the first game, the Ravens would score one in the first. Senior Melissa Konopinski would hit a single to third base giving enough time for a runner to come home.

In the third, Pierce would add four insurance runs to their lead. Haley Bigwood would double to center field to plate one and Konopinski would single up the middle to drive home another run. Then junior Susannah Campos (Lemoore, Calif.) would hit a two RBI double to right center putting the Dolphins in the 5-0 hole.

Two innings later, freshman Amy Jones (San Diego, Calif.) would single to right field bringing home two more runs for Franklin Pierce.

The Ravens would keep their 7-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, when Le Moyne would try to make a comeback.  The Dolphins would score four runs by way of a solo shot from Frankie Larobardiere, an RBI infield single from Dominique Rinaldi and a double to plate two runs from Alexandra Chesney.

Pierce softball would hold on and claim the game two victory by score of 7-4.

In the circle, junior Samantha Sylvester (Morris, Conn.) made her ninth start of the season pitching through five innings allowing no runs on one hit and one walk while striking out a batter. In relief, junior Abby Poirot would toss through 1.2 innings giving up four runs on five hits and one walk. To seal the game for the Ravens, junior Sabrina Gonzalez would come in to get the last out and force the Le Moyne batter to foul out.

The Franklin Pierce University softball team will face another NE10 foe in the College of Saint Rose tomorrow at Plumeri Sports Complex. Game starts are set for 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. respectively.