Efficient Pitching and Timely Hitting Result in Softball Twinbill Sweep of Purple Knights

COLCHESTER, Vt. (April 17, 2019) – The Franklin Pierce University softball upperclassman pitching duo of Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) and Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin, Mass.) held Northeast-10 Conference opponent Saint Michael's College to only two runs in a doubleheader sweep dispatching the Purple Knights 5-2 in game one and 7-0 in the nightcap. The wins were the seventh and eighth of the campaign for the Crimson and Grey, their third and fourth conference victory and first and second in divisional play. The losses send SMC to 2-26, 1-16 NE10 and 1-12 on the Northeast Division.

LoMonaco threw her first ever complete game shutout going the distance in the game two 7-0 victory. She scattered six hits, walked three and struck out five batters. Centerfielder Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) was the star on offense with a 3-for-6, one double, three RBI and three runs scored performance.

Game One: Ravens 5, Purple Knights 2 (Final)

Mamone stifled the Saint Michael's bats going the distance in the win. She earned her first win of the campaign allowing two runs on eight hits while sending two Purple Knights back to the dugout by strikeout.

Eight of the nine Raven starters achieved a hit on offense. Rosario had the lone multi-hit game for Pierce going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double and one RBI. Shortstop Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.) plated two runs of her own with a 1-for-3, one walk performance.

For Saint Michael's third baseman Aleksandra Apkarian did all the heavy lifting going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double. Pitcher Torie Rathwell took the setback permitting all five runs to score off nine hits, two walks, and five punch outs.

Saint Michael's threatened to score in the bottom of the first. The first batter of the game, Leigh Brandenburg reached first via an error. Apkarian followed with a single to center. With one away, the Ravens could not turn the inning-ending double play which put runners at the corners and two down. The bases were eventually loaded due to a hit by pitch until Raven third baseman Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) gobbled up the grounder and stepped on the third base bag to end the frame.

The Ravens offense produced some timely two-out hitting in the top of the second leading to four runs and a 4-0 advantage. Right fielder Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) slapped a single down the right-field line. Freshman first baseman Lexi Garcia (Sylmar, Calif.) contributed a single up the middle to move Hinckley into scoring position. Left fielder Sarah Ernst (Ayer, Mass.) reached base via walk loading the bases.

Rathwell could not get out of the inning as Rosario singled to the circle and beat out the throw. Rego kept the line moving singling to third base plating two Ravens and second baseman Kaitlyn Rooney (Shirley, Mass.) ended the scoring with another single growing the Raven lead.

In the top of the fourth, Rosario led off the frame ripping a two-bagger to left center field and three batters later, freshman catcher Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) smoked a single to center increasing edge to 5-0. Saint Michael's got one run back in the bottom of the fourth and seventh, but it wasn't enough as the Ravens were victorious.

Game Two: Ravens 7, Purple Knights 0 (Final)

Rooney, Martinez, and Garcia had the two-hit showings for the Ravens in the second game as once again eight of nine Raven starters recorded a hit. Rooney brought home a run via an RBI single same with Rosario, Rooney, Hinckley and freshman Caitlyn Munzing (Beverly, Mass.).

SMC's Danielle Markowski was 2-for-2 at the plate with a free pass. Molly Feeney started the game in the circle for the Purple Knights and allowed only two unearned runs over five innings. She was lifted in favor of Rathwell who was rocked in two frames letting five runs – one earned come into score.

The Ravens drew first blood in the nightcap crossing the dish twice in the top of the second. Conway pulled a 1-1 offering down the left field line and moved up an extra base due to a muffed throw by the Purple Knights. Conway came around to score immediately due to a dropped ball helping the Ravens crack the scoring column early. The next batter, Hinckley smacked an opposite-field single through the right side plating freshman designated player Cat Simmons (Pine Plains, N.Y.) for the second run.

Pierce tacked on five runs in the away half of the sixth after the pitching change. With one down, the bases were juiced for pinch hitter Caitlyn Munzing who rose to the occasion and dropped in a single to left field. Rosario followed with a 2-2 count single up the middle to add another run. A Rego sac fly and a Rooney single was all the scoring the Ravens needed to complete the sweep.  

The Ravens return home for a single game tomorrow against conference foe Merrimack College 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).