Recap by student-staff writer Joe McLaughlin

Melbourne, FL (3-18-25) - The Franklin Pierce softball team split their series with the Molloy Lions winning game one 7-3 while falling 4-2 in game two.

Score: Game 1 – Franklin Pierce 7, Molloy 3 – Game 2 – Franklin Pierce 2, Molloy 4.
Records: Franklin Pierce 9-7 (0-0 NE10), Molloy 5-7 (0-0 ECC)
Location: USSSA Complex, Melbourne, FL
Date: March 18th, 2025

Game 1:

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lions got on the board early in the top of the first. Stevie Dabbadie singled to center, scoring Natalie Moussa, and making it 1-0 Molloy.
• Molloy added on to their lead in the 3rd inning with two more runs. Natalie Moussa was caught stealing at second base, however, on the throw, Emily McGurk scored, making it 2-0. Stevie Dabbadie then got her second RBI of the game scoring Casey Kissinger to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.
• The Ravens would respond with a monster third inning of their own, scoring all seven of their runs in it. It started with a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Andie Anderson (Phoenix, AZ) that scored first-year infielder Danielle Belliveau (Baldwinville, MA) and put the Ravens on the board. Then, first-year outfielder Zoey Galindo (Lakewood, CA) struck an RBI single to left scoring senior infielder Lita Vorseth (Mesa, AZ) putting the Ravens within one. Shortly after that, sophomore catcher Charlit Hartenstein (Massapequa, NY) crushed an RBI double to right, scoring Zoey Galindo and first-year first baseman Maisie Lerette (New Gloucester, ME) to give the Raves their first lead of the game.
• The Ravens would not look back from there as they kept extending their lead in the third. First-year third baseman Kaylee Fraund (Murietta, CA) singled down the 3rd baseline, scoring senior outfielder Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ) to put the Ravens up 5-3. Then, Lita Vorseth reached base on a throwing error, which scored both senior first baseman Anna Erikson (Temecula, CA) and Charlit Hartenstein, giving the Ravens a 7-3 that they would hold onto for the remainder of the game.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS

• The Lions out hit the Ravens 9-7
• The biggest difference, however, were the two errors committed by the Lions, which gave the Ravens a 7-3 lead.
• Junior pitcher Brooke Koehler (Surprise, AZ) recorded the win for the Ravens after pitching five complete innings of relief. She gave up five hits but only two runs while striking out two batters.
• Stevie Dabbadie was charged with the loss, after giving up five hits, six runs, and two walks.

Game 2:

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Ravens struck first in game two. Charlit Hartenstein hit an RBI double to score Andie Anderson, giving the Ravens a 1-0 lead.
• The Lions would claw back shortly after in the bottom of the second. Mariah Cepeda poked an RBI single to center scoring Megan Wegel and then Cheralyn Dusharme on a throwing error, to put Molloy up 2-1. Then, Emily McGurk singled to right-center, scoring Mariah Cepeda, making it 3-1 Lions.
• The Lions then would extend their lead in the third inning off a solo home run by Natalie Moussa to left-center field, making it 4-1 Lions.
• The Raven would get a run back in the top of the sixth thanks to Andie Anderson walking with the bases loaded, scoring senior infielder Haley Bigwood (Athol, MA) to make it 4-2. However, the Ravens could not close the gap in the seventh, falling 4-2 in game two.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS

• Once again, the Lions out hit the Ravens, this time 8-6.
• The Ravens struggled more on defense in game two, committing two errors to the Lions' one.
• Stevie Dabbadie got her revenge in game two, recording the win while giving up five hits, two runs, and four walks. Natalie Moussa recorded the save.
• Sophomore pitcher Kennedy Morris (Stafford, CT) recorded the loss after four innings pitched, giving up six hits and four runs.

UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens finish their final day at the Space Coast Spring Games tomorrow with games against Texas-Dallas and Nova Southeastern. First pitch for the first game of the day is set for 10:00 AM on Wednesday at the USSSA Complex.