Bentley Takes Season Series From Ravens with 13-3 Sunday Afternoon Win

RINDGE, N.H. (April 14, 2019) – A two-run second frame brought the Franklin Pierce University softball program within one until Northeast-10 Conference opponent Bentley University exploded for 10 runs over the next three innings to complete the weekend series sweep with a 13-3 five-inning victory at the Bisaccia Softball Complex Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Falcons improve to 14-19, 10-8 NE10 and 6-6 in the Northeast Division while the Ravens drop their 26th overall contest and 16th league game.

The Ravens snapped a three-game scoreless stretch with their three runs scored. Third baseman Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) had an RBI single to finish 1-for-3 with one run scored and teammate Cat Simmons (Pine Plains, N.Y.) roped an RBI double going 1-for-3 with a run scored as well. Designated player Lexi Garcia (Sylmar, Calif.) chipped in a 1-for-2 RBI single performance.

For the Falcons, second baseman Julie Slavin brought in four runs with a triple in a 3-for-3 effort. Backstop Ella Hillier also was unblemished in the batter's box combining to go 4-for-4 with a solo jack, two-RBI and four runs scored. Starting pitcher Ashley Keegan improved to 7-4 in the win allowing only six hits and three runs – one earned with one strikeout.

Raven starting pitcher Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) began the contest getting the first two outs of the game. Hillier doubled to left field with two away and Slavin promptly singled to left to plate her teammate for the first run. Bentley tacked on two more runs in the top of the second off a Pierce fielding error and an RBI groundout to short.

In the home half of the inning, Conway reached first base via an error by the Falcon second baseman and the throwaway allowed Conway to take an extra base. Simmons made Bentley pay for that mistake lining a 1-0 pitch down the left field line for a two-bagger driving home the Ravens first run. Simmons took third base on the second out of the inning then Garcia smoked a single up the middle to pull Pierce within one 3-2.

Bentley chipped in three runs in the top of the third to up their edge to 6-2. Hillier rocked a one-out tater down the left field line. The bases eventually were loaded for Sami Palazzolo who dropped an opposite-field single down the right field line which scored two.

A Slavin two-RBI single to center and a five-run top of the fifth frame put the game away for the Falcons.

The Ravens head out on the road for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 17th at Saint Michael's College with first pitch set for 3:00 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).