Softball Falls 1-0 Against Franklin Pierce, Comes Back for 6-4 Win in Game Two

Perez knocks in game-winning runs with eighth double of the season


Ricker led the team as she went 3-for-4 in game 1

RINDGE, N.H. (April 14, 2018) – The Stonehill College softball team tied up the series against Northeast-10 Conference divisional foe Franklin Pierce University on Saturday, April 14 at Bisaccia Softball Complex with a battle in a 1-0 loss and then a come-from-behind 6-4 victory in the second game.

Game 1: Stonehill 0 – Franklin Pierce 1

Stonehill tallied the first hit of the game in the top of the first, as Caroline Casey (East Moriches, New York/Center Moriches) doubled to left center but Franklin Pierce's Cyrena Zemaitis struck out her first two batters to halt Casey on second.

The Skyhawks saw Michelle Theilgard (North Branford, Connecticut/Mercy) connect on a lead off single up the middle in the top of the fourth and with one out Julia Hartman (Salisbury, Massachusetts/Triton Regional) walked to put runners on first and second. Both runners were moved over with a grounder to first base to get in scoring position, but Stonehill was unable to advance with another ground out, stranding the two on base.  

In the bottom of the frame, Franklin Pierce's Cassidy Sorenson led off with a walk and quickly moved over to third during Ashley Conway's at bat off a wild pitch and the throw. With one out, Aubrey Bianco hit a base hit through the right side easily scoring Sorenson from third for a one-run game, 1-0. After a second out and another single, Jennifer Mayette (Scotia, New York/Scotia-Glenville) saw her fourth strikeout of the game to leave two on base.

Stonehill connected again in the top of the fifth inning, as Hannah Ricker (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) singled to left center and Casey reached on an error putting the two runners on first and second. Ricker was called out with a grounder to third base putting Casey on second and Carly Rennie (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) on first with two outs. Zemaitis tallied her eighth strikeout of the game to end the inning.

The Ravens fended off the Skyhawks in the top of the sixth with three-straight outs and saw Ricker only advance to second in the bottom of the seventh with two outs as Zemaitis struck out the 10th batter of the game.

Game 2: Stonehill 6 – Franklin Pierce 4

The first two innings were quiet, as Franklin Pierce got on board in the bottom of the third with a two-out RBI single to right center scoring Jess Rego from third.

Stonehill saw its first lead of the game with three runs in the top of the fifth off three hits, 3-1. With two outs and runners on first and second, a passed ball advanced the runners and Casey singled to left field clearing the bases for a 2-1 lead. Theilgard then tallied her sixth double of the season to bring home Casey for a two-run lead, 3-1.


Walker pitched 2.2 innings and held the Ravens to no runs and two strikeouts 

In the bottom of the frame, Jaclyn Cortese led off with a single and the Ravens quickly got runners on second and third for Allison Shaw to drive home Cortese from third. Rego then tied up the game, crossing home plate on a wild pitch for a 3-3 score. Shaw moved over to third and Sorenson singled to second base bringing in the third run of the inning, regaining the lead, 4-3.

The Skyhawks got an early out in the top of the seventh, but Olivia Peterson (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) followed with a single to the pitcher and Casey tallied her third hit of the game putting runners on first and second. Theilgard walked to load the bases, and Sophie Perez (Bridgewater, Massachusetts/Bridgewater-Raynham) drove the ball out to deep left center field for a bases-clearing double, her eighth of the season, 10th of her career.

Stonehill kept the Ravens off the bases in the bottom of the seventh, as Kazi Walker (Quaker Hill, Connecticut/Waterford) allowed only one hit and Franklin Pierce's Ashley Rosario was stopped at second base, unable to get a run across.

Stonehill (7-20, 6-11 NE10) and Franklin Pierce University were scheduled to wrap up the series tomorrow, Sunday, April 15, but the game is postponed to Tuesday, April 17 with a first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Bisaccia Softball Complex in Rindge, New Hampshire.

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