Assumption Sweeps Saturday Softball Doubleheader Against Ravens

WORCESTER, Mass. (March 30, 2019) – Holding a 1-0 lead in the late innings of the first game of their Saturday doubleheader, the Franklin Pierce University softball team allowed single runs in the sixth and seventh frames as Assumption College earned a 2-1 walk-off victory before taking a 4-1 second game decision. The losses send the Ravens to 5-13, 1-3 NE10 while the Greyhounds even up their record at 10-10, 4-4 NE10.

Freshman first baseman Cat Simmons (Pine Plains, N.Y.) swung the hot bat for the Ravens in both duels going 3-for-6 with a homer, two doubles, two RBI and one walk. The tater was her fourth of the season and she currently leads the Ravens in homers (4), doubles (6), RBI (12), batting average (.414), slugging percentage (.759), hits (24) and runs (10).

Game One: Greyhounds 2, Ravens 1 (Final)

Sophomore right-hander Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) started the first game for the Ravens scattering five hits, striking out nine batters and allowing two earned runs. The Ravens could only muster three hits on offense with Simmons knocking in the only run via a solo big fly. Leadoff catcher Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) and center fielder Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) added the other base knocks with Martinez's being a two-bagger.

FPU could not figure out Assumption pitcher Mia Nowicki who tossed a complete game three-hitter, walking two batters and striking out four. Shortstop Alyssa Beaton went 1-for-3 at the dish with an RBI double. Alyssa Bialakis walked off the game in the bottom of the seventh roping a double through the left side.

The Raven led off the game with a Martinez double to right field, but could not bring her home as the next three batters were sent down in order. Pierce broke through in the top of the fourth with one out as Simmons lined a solo shot to give the Ravens the 1-0 edge.

The guests remained in front until the bottom of the sixth. Assumption right fielder Julia Mazzeo started the frame singling up the middle. Mazzeo advanced to second when second baseman Brooke Murphy grounded out to third. Zemaitis sent third baseman Mckenzie Richards back to the dugout via a swinging strikeout for the second out. However, Beaton deadlocked the battle 1-1 with an RBI two-out double. Beaton was stranded at second as Zemaitis racked up her ninth strikeout of the game.

After sending the Ravens down in order, Assumption took their last hacks. A leadoff single and a sac bunt put the game-winning run at second base with one away. Bialakis promptly doubled for the walk-off win.

Game Two: Greyhounds 4, Ravens 1 (Final)

Senior Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin, Mass.) drew the start in the circle for the Ravens. She lasted two innings allowing three runs, all earned with two punchouts. Left-hander Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) hurled four innings in relief striking out three batters.

Simmons had a two double performance plating the only Raven run. Hinckley manufactured two hits of her own as well.

For the Greyhounds, Mia Patriacca tossed six innings of one-run ball sending three batters back to the dugout via the K. Right fielder Julia Mazzeo went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Murphy, Beaton, Peabody and Abigail Duggan all knocked in runs.

Assumption drew first blood in the home half of the first. Murphy played catalyst with a leadoff bunt single. She moved all the way to third via a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt. Beaton brought her teammate in with a single up the middle. She came around to score via a Peabody rope double to center field. LoMonaco settled down to strikeout Richards looking to end the inning.

The home squad tacked on insurance runs in the bottom of the second and the bottom of the fourth to grow their edge to 4-0. FPU notched a run in the top of the fifth. Martinez walked and made it all the way to third base after Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) reached first via an error. Simmons made Assumption pay for the mistake smoking an extra-base hit to left. The Ravens mustered only three more base runners, none past second base.

The Ravens wrap up their weekend set at Assumption tomorrow with first pitch set for noon.

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).