Softball Loses Two Close Games at East Stroudsburg

ASTON, Pa. (March 16, 2019) – The Franklin Pierce University softball program traveled to East Stroudsburg University for a doubleheader and dropped both games, a 3-2 game one setback to the Warriors and a 4-3 second game defeat. The wins send the home team to 8-10 on the year while the Crimson and Grey moved to 2-8 with both losses.

Reigning NE10 Rookie of the Week Cat Simmons (Pine Plains, N.Y.) kept on swinging a hot bat expanding her hit streak to eight games going a total of 4-for-7 at the dish with two runs scored and the first stolen base of her career. Through 10 games Simmons is hitting .469, the second highest mark in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Outfielder Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) also went a combined 3-for-7 in the batter's box hitting her second bomb of the season, driving in two runs, scoring twice, roping a double and chipping in a theft of her own.

Game One: Warriors 3, Ravens 2 (Final)

Junior southpaw Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) earned the game one start for FPU and tossed four innings allowing three runs on four hits striking out six batters. Junior second baseman Kaitlyn Rooney (Shirley, Mass.) was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Hinckley tallied a double of her own. For the hosts, Marissa Govan had two RBIs and a double while shortstop Denva Shaw-Tait went 2-for-3 with the other RBI.

Pierce opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. Hinckley led off the frame with a two-bagger to right field. One batter later, Rooney barreled a single to center field that plated Hinckley giving the Ravens a 1-0 advantage, however, Rooney was thrown out trying to reach second base. Warrior starter Mikayla Pourby (4-2) induced a fly out to end the inning.

The Warriors two-out hitting was the key to their three-run third inning. Mamone was dealing getting the first batter of the frame to ground out weakly to short. She nearly had a second out via swinging strike, but Rachel Seiverd reached first base on a wild pitch. The next batter, Sofia Cecchin singled putting runners at first and second with no outs. Mamone promptly got Kaylee Hazewski to go down by way of the K for out number two. Govan had the big blow launching a bases-clearing double to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage. Shaw-Tait kept the line moving with an extra-base knock of her own plating Govan upping the margin to 3-1. Madison Vicendese lined out to second base for the third and final out.

FPU came within one in the top half of the sixth. Simmons led off with a single and junior designated player Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) got on base via a fielding error. Hinckley grounded out to the pitcher for the first out advancing both runners into scoring position. Freshman first baseman Lexi Garcia (Sylman, Calif.) lofted a sacrifice fly to center bringing in Simmons and more importantly cutting the Raven deficit to 3-2. Rooney grounded out to first to end the inning.

The Ravens came close to tying the game in their last at-bats when the leadoff hitter Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) singled to center. She was gunned down at second base on an Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) fielder's choice. Rosario stole second base keeping the pressure on Pourby. However, the Warrior pitcher struck out the last batter concluding the Ravens late surge.  

Game Two: Warriors 4, Ravens 3 (Final)

Sophomore ace Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) took the hill for game two and punched out a season-high 10 batters as she suffered her fourth loss of the campaign. A trio of Ravens had multi-hit efforts including Martinez, Simmons, and Hinckley. Conway was 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.

Govan continued her hot hitting going 2-for-3 with a triple and one RBI. Shaw-Tait produced a two-run tater. Angelica Dark improved to 2-4 on the season striking out five batters. Mickayla Grow snared her second save of the year scatting two walks and not allowing a hit in two frames.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Pierce took a 2-0 lead. Simmons kicked off the inning with a leadoff single and moved all the way to third base when Conway followed with a double. Hinckley notched the third straight hit for FPU singling to bring home Simmons and advancing Conway to third. With no outs, the Ravens were aggressive on the base paths which resulted in another run via a double steal which saw Hinckley take second and on the throw, Conway dashing home giving the guests a 2-0 edge. Hinckley couldn't move past second base as the next three Ravens were sent back to the dugout.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Warriors got one run back. Madison Vicendese stepped into the box to lead off the frame and slashed a triple. Zemaitis got Kaitlyn Caleen to go down swinging, but Rachel Seiverd rocketed a double bringing in Vicendese for ESU's first run. Zemaitis made MacKenzie Lewis strikeout and Ashley Spencer fly out to keep the Ravens ahead 2-1 after four.

East Stroudsburg took a 4-2 lead in the home half of the fifth. Kaylee Hazewski singled and immediately stole second and third base with Govan taking hacks. Govan singled to deadlock the score 2-2. Shaw-Tait cleared the bases walloping a long ball giving the Warriors a two-run, 4-2 lead. Zemaitis worked around a single and punched out the final two batters to end the inning.

The Ravens final opportunity to mount a comeback came in the top of the sixth. Hinckley kicked things off with a solo johnson cutting the Raven deficit to 4-3. Rooney singled to center and the Warrior coach went to the circle to make a pitching change. Grow came in and was responsible for Rooney at first base. She immediately walked Mamone putting two runners on during a one-run game in the late stages. The next two Raven batters reached via fielders choice, however, the lead runner was thrown out at third. With two away Martinez was issued a free pass once again, putting runners on first and second. Rosario grounded into a fielder's choice and the lead runner was out at third base unassisted halting the Raven rally.

Franklin Pierce wraps up their four-game weekend set against East Stroudsburg tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://fpuravens.com). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce softball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://fpuravens.com). You can also follow the softball team on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPUSoftball_) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpu_ravens_softball).