RINDGE, N.H. (4/28/23) – With the Northeast-10 Conference postseason beginning to take formation, the Franklin Pierce softball program picked up a Senior Day doubleheader split with Assumption University, falling to the Greyhounds 3-1 in game one before rebounding with a 7-3 win in game two on Friday afternoon at Bisaccia Field. 

The Ravens move to 31-17 (15-8 NE10) following the swap, while the Greyhounds shift to 19-17 (11-11 NE10) overall.

GAME #1

The Assumption bats quickly went to work in the top of the first inning, beginning with a lead-off double to right-center field by senior Jordan Dwyer. With a run already in scoring position, Corin Mahan took care of the rest with a perfectly placed bunt down the first base line, scoring Dwyer for the 1-0 Assumption advantage.  

The Ravens would be forced into an even tougher position in the top of the third inning, where the Greyhounds added a second run off another two-bagger to right-center field, this time by Mahan. The Ravens finally broke through in the bottom half of the third inning for their first run of the game, which came as a result of sacrifice fly-out to center field by sophomore Bella Williams (Phoenix, Ariz.) that scored freshman Andie Anderson (Phoenix, Ariz.).

Assumption would tack on another run in the top of the fourth, expanding their lead to 3-1 at the halfway point of the action. Entering the game as a pinch hitter for the Greyhounds, Mackenzie Bruggeman got the pitch she wanted and unloaded her 5^th homer of the season.

Assumption would tack on another run in the top of the fourth inning, expanding their lead to 3-1 after Mackenzie Bruggeman unloaded her 5^th homer of the season, a solo shot, over the center field fence.

The rest of the way, it would be no more than a defensive battle between the two squads, with Pierce outhitting Assumption by a meager 2-1 margin through the final three innings.

Senior Abby Poirot (Winstead, Conn.) earned the start for Pierce in the opening game, and pitched 3.2 innings with three runs surrendered on five hits and three walks, striking out one to claim the loss (7-7). Freshman Savannah Arreguin (Pacoima, Calif.) assisted in the final 3.1 innings of play, and allowed two hits and one walk.

GAME #2

In the top of the first, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with no outs on an RBI triple to right-center field by Bella Williams, scoring freshman Amy Jones following her lead-off single. The Raven lead would quickly be pushed to 2-0 in the next at-bat, as junior Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) chipped an RBI base hit into center field, scoring Williams. Pierce would get two more runners on base before the end of the inning, but would be denied any more damage.

With the bases loaded, Assumption would respond in the top of the second with a single run by way of a ground-out to the pitcher. However, the Ravens would conjure up another pair of points in the bottom half of the frame, courtesy of an inside the park home run from Amy Jones, the first of her collegiate career, which also brought home pinch-runner Ari Rodriguez (Clinton, Mass.).

Following scoreless third and fourth innings, the Raven offense would re-emerge with three more runs across home plate. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, a walk to junior Haley Bigwood and singles from senior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) and freshman Hannah Wodecki (Southampton, Mass.) quickly saw the bases loaded for the Ravens. From there, senior catcher Hailey Melchert (Lake Orion, Mich.) and junior infielder Molly Magnette (Ayer, Mass.) would combine for the three RBI on separate singles into right field, giving the Ravens the 7-1 edge nearing the late stages of the game.

The Greyhounds would stage a small rally in the top of the seventh, scoring twice on a sac-fly and a fielder's choice, but would fail to pull any closer to the victorious Ravens.

Junior Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) got the game two nod in the circle, and pitched her fifth complete game of the year, tying her career single-season record. Gonzalez earned the win (13-5) after tossing seven full innings with three runs allowed on four hits, walking one batter.

With the unveiling of the upcoming NE10 Championship Tournament layout, Franklin Pierce softball is locked in as the No. 3 seed and will face the winner of #7 Le Moyne College at No. 6 Assumption University on Thursday, May 4th at Janet L. Ficke Field, kicking off Championship Weekend at top-seeded host Adelphi University.