Franklin Pierce softball

Raven Softball Shutout By Bentley in Home Doubleheader

RINDGE, N.H. (April 13, 2019) – The Franklin Pierce University softball program suffered two defeats Saturday a 2-0 game one loss followed by a 12-0 five-inning setback to Northeast-10 Conference opponent Bentley University. The losses were the 25th and 15th in conference play for the Crimson and Grey while the guests glide to 13-19, 9-7 NE10 and 5-6 in the Northeast Division.

The Raven offensive unit has struggled their past three games scoring zero runs in three defeats. They have also crossed the plate only twice over the course of their last five contests.

Game One: Falcons 2, Ravens 0 (Final)

Sophomore Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) took the ball in game one and allowed two runs – none earned and struck out nine batters across five frames. Left-hander Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) came on in relief and tossed two hitless innings.

Backstop Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) had two hits for the Ravens including a two-bagger. Shortstop Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.) was 1-for-3 from the leadoff spot with one walk.

Falcons second baseman Julie Slavin and designated player Jillian Parinello each drove in the runs for the guests. Left fielder Stacey Korotsky went 2-for-3 as well. Lauren Calabrese earned her second win of the year hurling a complete game and sent six Ravens back to the dugout via strikeout.

In the home half of the first inning, a one-out walk and a two-out bloop single by freshman Cat Simmons (Pine Plains, N.Y.) put runners at the corners for Pierce. Simmons advanced to second off a wild pitch, however first baseman Lexi Garcia (Sylmar, Calif.) popped out to second base ending the threat.

Zemaitis retired six of the first 10 batters of the game by swinging strikeouts. In the top of the third, the Raven pitcher worked around an opposite-field poke, a steal, and a passed ball to get out of the inning unscathed. She made a fine defensive play in the circle making a snow cone catch in her glove for the second out and punching out the final batter which concluded the frame.

Bentley broke through in the fourth inning. Left fielder Stacey Korotsky pulled a single through the left side and Ella Hillier had a second chance after the Raven first baseman dropped a foul popup that would have been the first out of the inning and she immediately singled to right field. Another dropped foul ball happened, but Zemaitis induced another strikeout. Falcon second baseman Julia Slavin cracked the scoring column with a single up the middle that glanced off a diving Rego's glove. Jillian Parinello's sacrifice fly to right field was put away and the play at the plate was too late expanding the Falcon edge to 2-0.

FPU threatened with their next hacks as Rego dropped in a single to left. She was picked off catcher to first base in a close play at the bag for the first out. With two down, Martinez bashed a first-pitch double into the left-center field gap bringing Simmons to the plate, but she popped out the short to end the fifth.

The Ravens had one more opportunity in the bottom of the seventh as sophomore left fielder Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) singled to shortstop and Rego was issued a free pass. Calabrese sent down the next two Ravens to complete the shutout.

 

Game Two: Falcons 12, Ravens 0 (Final – 5 Innings)

Bentley catcher Ella Hillier had a productive game in the run-rule victory going 2-for-4 with three RBI, three runs scored and a double. Right fielder Sami Palazzolo also brought in three runs with a 2-for-4 effort of her own.

In the bottom of the first, Rego walloped a 1-1 pitch off the left field wall for a leadoff double. Freshman outfielder Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) immediately sacrificed her teammate over handing the Ravens a scoring chance with one down. The next two batters were retired by pitcher Elise Pereira to thwart the scoring chance.   

The next half inning, Slavin reached first off a throwing miscue by Simmons. She was trying to be sacrificed over, but Juliana Romeo's attempt actually ended up being a hit. Romeo stole second which put runners at second and third with no one gone. Raven starter Amelia Mamone sent Elise Pereira down swinging for the first out. Sami Palazzolo singled up the middle to plate two runs and was gunned down trying to take second by sophomore right fielder Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.), Martinez and second baseman Kaitlyn Rooney (Shirley, Mass.).

The Falcons tacked on three runs in the top of the third via an RBI double, triple and single to short to up their advantage to 5-0. They put the game away in the next inning scoring six times as the frames first six batters all got on base either by hit or error.

The Ravens end their three-game series with Bentley tomorrow at 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).