#13 SNHU Sweeps Season Series Versus Raven Softball

MANCHESTER, N.H. (April 10, 2019) – After notching a 22-1 five-inning victory on April 1st, the no. 13 nationally-ranked Southern New Hampshire University softball program swept the season series from Franklin Pierce University taking a doubleheader by winning game one, 4-1 and game two, 11-1 in five innings. The setbacks were the 22nd overall for the Ravens and 12th in league play while the Penmen mark grows to 29-4 and 14-0 NE10.

Raven freshman catcher Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) played in both games for FPU and went 3-for-7 at the plate with a double and an RBI.

Game One: Penmen 4, Ravens 1 (Final)

Sophomore hurler Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) got the start in game one for the Ravens. She tossed her ninth complete game of the year and allowed four runs – two earned and struck out nine batters. Freshman designated player Cat Simmons (Pine Plains, N.Y.) was 2-for-3 at the dish and second baseman Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.) went 1-for-4 with one run scored.

Second baseman Shay Sauvageau was a perfect 3-for-3 from the bottom of the lineup plating one run. First baseman Emily Carbonneau roped a solo homer in a 2-for-3 effort. Maddy Barone earned the start in the circle and she threw seven innings, letting only one earned run to score on five hits.

SNHU brought home the first run in the top of the first when catcher and three-hitter Erin Garczynski's sacrifice fly to second base gave the away team the early edge. In the top of the second, Zemaitis worked around a two-out single to retire the side via swinging strikeout.

The Ravens tied the duel in the home half of the third. A one-out Rego two-bagger to center was the second hit of the game for the Ravens. The next Raven made an out when she fouled out to the catcher. Timely two-out hitting by Martinez when she singled to center brought in the tying run.

With two outs in the top of the fourth, Carbonneau rocked a solo shot to left center breaking the tie and pushing the Penmen back ahead 2-1. FPU had a chance to tie the game again in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore right fielder Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) walked and strolled into second off a Simmons single to center however the Raven threat was thwarted when Barone induced a 6-3 groundout.

The Penmen tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh via a single to center and another sacrifice fly to wrap up the 4-1 game one victory.

Game Two: Penmen 11, Ravens 1 (Final – 5 Innings)

Like Simmons did in game one, Martinez had the two hit showing for Pierce in the nightcap. First baseman Lexi Garcia (Sylmar, Calif.) and second baseman Kaitlyn Rooney (Shirley, Mass.) also tallied hits of their own. For the second consecutive game, second baseman Shay Sauvageau paced the Penmen producing a perfect 4-for-4 three-RBI performance at the plate. Left fielder Jackie Gavin went 3-for-4 with two two-baggers, two RBI and two runs scored.

The Ravens jumped ahead 1-0 in the early stages. Rego walked, Martinez, knocked a single up the middle and Simmons sacrificed their teammates over putting team captain Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) at the dish. Conway reached base via an error scoring Rego for the only Raven run.

In the top of the second, the guests captured the lead for good. With one down, Carbonneau singled to right. Gavin followed and smacked a one-out double into the left-center field gap driving home a run. Sauvageau then brought home her teammate in with a single to center. Shortstop Erin Tyrrell barreled a triple to center and came around to score on a wild pitch giving their squad a 4-1 lead.

The Penmen tacked on runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to complete the run-rule victory.

The Ravens hit the road tomorrow for a single game at Saint Anselm College at 4:00 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).