Recap by Director of Athletic Communications Luke Tracy 

PLEASANTVILLE, NY (3/30/2024) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team improved to 12-6 on Saturday afternoon after the team split a double header with the Setters of Pace University.

Game 1 Score: Franklin Pierce 3, Pace 7   
Game 2 Score: Franklin Pierce 3, Pace 1   
Records: Franklin Pierce 12-6 (3-1, NE10) Pace 14-6 (3-1, NE10)   
Location: "Pace Softball Field", Pace University, Pleasantville, New York
Date: Saturday, March 30, 2024

GAME 1:
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Pace jumped ahead to a 7-0 lead in the first four innings. Though the Ravens were connecting with the ball, the Setters defense kept anyone from cross home plate until the top of the fifth. After a Savannah Arreguin (Pacoima, CA) single and a Charlit Hartenstein (Massapequa, NY) walk, Susannah Campos (Lemoore, CA) stepped up to the plate and hit a single to right field which sent Arreguin home.
• Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ) and Anna Erikson (Temecula, CA) followed suit with singles to the outfield which sent another two Ravens home to make it 7-3. Run scoring came to a halt after the fifth inning and the Setters closed out game one of the double header with a 7-3 victory.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• The Ravens rattled off seven hits through seven innings which was just three behind the Setters. Anna Erickson led with two hits on four at bats and an RBI. Bella Williams grabbed two hits, and a single RBI after she went to the plate three times. The only other RBI came from Susannah Campos who went one for one at the plate.
• The Ravens' field players were busy in game one, as pitching only generated three strikeouts.

GAME 2:
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The second game was a defensive showdown between the Ravens and Setters, but Pierce pulled out the victory in the tenth inning.
• After a scoreless first, Savannah Arreguin was walked to first and Georgia Clough (Barriere, BC) stepped up to the plate. Smoking the ball to right center field, Arreguin hit the jets and rounded second, then third and scored as Clough made her way to second base. The one run double gave the Ravens the 1-0 lead.
• In the bottom of the fourth, the Setters scored off a single to right field and knotted it at one a piece.
• Both teams put up goose eggs on the score board for the next five innings. During the top of the fifth with two outs down, a Setters error helped Danielle Belliveau (Baldwinville, MA) reach first base and in the meantime Arreguin crossed home plate making it 2-1.
• During the next bat, a hit from Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, MA) forced a second error in a row from the Setters which let Belliveau score the unearned run and extend the lead to 3-1.
• In the bottom of the ninth, senior pitcher Samantha Sylvester (Morris, CT) took the mound for her sixth inning of the day and led the Ravens' defense to another shutout inning to secure her fifth win of the season.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• The Ravens tallied only three hits in game two but it was all they needed to secure the victory. As for the Setters, the team recorded seven hits but the Raven defense kept them from reaching home.

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: After 18 games on the road, the Franklin Pierce University softball team finally returns to Rindge, New Hampshire for their home opener on Friday, April 5. The Ravens will take on in conference and cross state opponent Saint Anselm in a double header with the first game scheduled for 3:00 PM.