ALBANY, N.Y. (4/22/23) - The No. 5 regionally ranked Franklin Pierce University softball team earned a come-from-behind, game one victory against Northeast-10 Conference opponent College of Saint Rose by a final score of 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at Cathy Haker Field. The victory also marked a major milestone in the career of head coach Andy Klaus, who picked up his 100th career win in his fifth season at the helm. 

Due to lightning and heavy rain, the second game of the matchup would be made-up on Sunday, April 30th. With the completion of the sweep, Pierce Softball improved to a 29-16 (13-7 NE10), while the Golden Knights drop to a 12-27 overall record (4-16 NE10).

GAME #1

Following two scoreless innings to open play, Saint Rose would open the scoring in the bottom half of the third inning. Three runs would score for the Golden Knights, which would come by way of two consecutive RBI singles, with the first off the bat of center fielder Ciana Phillips and the other, a two RBI shot to left, from second baseman Alexandra Deeter.

In the sixth, the Ravens would cut the Golden Knight lead down to just two runs as junior Haley Bigwood (Athol, Mass.) would connect for a sacrifice fly-out to left, plating a run. Then, in the top half of the seventh, the Ravens would take their first lead of the game as sophomore Lita Vorseth (Mesa,Ariz.) began with a triple down the left field line, scoring one to bring the score to 3-2. The Ravens would officially jump ahead thanks to fellow sophomore Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.), who followed the Vorseth hit with a two RBI single, making it 4-3 Pierce.

The one run would prove to be enough, as junior Abby Poirot (Winstead, Conn.) would shut down the Saint Rose batters to boost the Ravens to a 4-3 victory.

Making her twelfth start in the circle, junior Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) would pitch through six innings and allow one earned run on six hits and three walks, striking out three batters to claim the win (11-5). Poirot would enter for the final inning, only allowing one hit to claim her first collegiate save.

Franklin Pierce Softball will enjoy five days off before returning home for their next round of Northeast-10 conference play on Friday April 28^th, when Assumption University comes to Rindge for a doubleheader at Bisaccia Field at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.

GAME #2 (4/30/23)

Just over a week after the initial postponement, play would resume in the top of the second inning with two outs with the Ravens leading 1-0. The first run of the game would come off the bat of freshman Hannah Wodecki (Southampton, Mass.) on an RBI single through the left side.

The Ravens then pulled away to a 6-0 advantage with five runs in the top of the third, beginning as two consecutive RBI singles to left field from senior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) and sophomore Lita Vorseth. Continuing the scoring rally would be freshman Amy Jones (San Diego, Calif.) as she would beat out the throw to first for the infield single, scoring one. Finally, sophomore Bella Williams would directly follow with another scoring single through the left side, plating another two runs.

The Golden Knights would answer for three of their own in the bottom half of the inning. With two runners on, catcher Ellen Fuda would double to left field to score both, and would then be brought home by pitcher Anna Clearly on a single to center. Another pair of runs would cross home plate for the Golden Knights in the bottom of the fifth, suddenly cutting the Raven lead down to 6-5. Both runs arrived by way of RBI singles from first baseman Madison Chandler and shortstop Madi Puppolo.

Despite the comeback effort, the Pierce offense would continue to make things difficult for the hosts. In the top of the sixth, Hannah Wodecki picked up where she left off with a single up the middle, plating two runs to bring Pierce back to a three run advantage with the score at 8-5.

In the seventh, Pierce would chalk-up one more run on the scoreboard to cushion their lead, following an RBI single from junior Haley Bigwood to score Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.).

However, the Golden Knights were determined to push the Ravens to the limit with a three-run bottom of the seventh by way of a two RBI double to left field from second baseman Alexandra Deeter, and a reach on a fielder's choice by third baseman Abby Behrikis.

However, the Ravens would quell the Saint Rose comeback effort, claiming the game two victory by a score of 9-8.

Junior Abby Poirot returned to the circle to pitch through one inning,  allowing no runs nor hits with two strikeouts. Junior Samantha Sylvester (Morris,Conn.) played the midway portion of the contest, tossing 3.2 innings of work while allowing four earned runs on five hits and one walk, also fanning two. Freshman Savannah Arreguin (Pacoima, Calif.) was the third to enter the circle with 1.1 innings of relief work, walking one batter with three runs surrendered on three hits. Junior Sabrina Gonzalez completed the game in the final inning, striking out one with one hit allowed.