Franklin Pierce Comes Up Just Short in Tucson
Ravens fall to Nazareth, 6-4, then suffer seventh-inning collapse in 8-7 loss to Babson
Boxscore vs.
Nazareth
Boxscore vs.
Babson
Kate Surgen knocked a pair of hits
on Monday against Nazareth.
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TUCSON, Ariz. (March 17,
2008) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team
continued to find bad luck on Monday night at the Tucson
Invitational Games, as the Ravens dropped a pair of tough games at
Lincoln Park. Franklin Pierce lost its first game of the day to
Nazareth College, 6-4, then fell in heartbreaking fashion to Babson
College, 8-7, to complete the day.
Nazareth 6, Franklin Pierce 4
Franklin Pierce dropped its first game of the day against
Nazareth, as the Ravens gave up four runs in the bottom of the
fifth inning that broke a 2-2 deadlock and gave the Golden Flyers
their first win of the year.
Senior captain Kate Surgen (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire
Regional) and junior Jackie Prybella (Marshfield,
Mass./Marshfield) paced the Ravens offensively with a pair
of hits each. Junior Elaine Matthews (Roslindale,
Mass./Archbishop Williams) also had an RBI single for
Franklin Pierce, while sophomore Kristen Tracy (Putnam
Valley, N.Y./Walter Panas) added a sacrifice fly.
Senior Becky Aalto (Hubbardston, Mass./Gardner)
began the game in the circle for Franklin Pierce, pitching into the
fifth inning. She was charged with four funs (three earned) on nine
hits, while walking one and striking out five. Aalto (0-1) took the
loss after putting the first two runners on in the fifth inning,
which later scored after she was lifted for junior Courtney
Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg). Jacobs struck out
three in one inning of work, but allowed a pair of hits and walked
one.
Babson 8, Franklin Pierce 7
Franklin Pierce seemed to have its first win of 2008 locked up in
the nightcap against Babson, but the Beavers scored eight runs with
two outs in the seventh inning to shock the Ravens and steal away
an 8-7 win.
Stephanie Howard drove in one run
and scored another against Babson on Monday.
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Junior Courtney Jacobs
(Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) was in firm control for most
of the night, as the ace took a no-hitter into the final inning of
play, striking out four along the way. She then retired two of the
first three batters of the seventh before things fell apart, as
Franklin Pierce committed four errors leading to eight unearned
runs. Jacobs gave up only two hits in the inning but also walked
three. She was lifted in favor of freshman Kayla Johnson
(Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) with the bases loaded and the
Ravens clinging to a 7-6 lead.
Johnson quickly worked the count to 0-2 on Michelle Bolduc
(Darien, Conn./Darien), but Bolduc connected with the game-winning
single later in the at-bat, scoring two runs to miraculously win
the game for the Beavers.
Jacobs (0-2) gave up eight runs (all unearned) on only two hits in
6 2/3 innings, striking out four but allowing eight walks. Johnson
blew the save chance by allowing a hit to the only batter she faced
on the evening.
The seventh-inning collapse overshadowed a very productive day
from Matthews, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, adding two
RBI and two runs scored for Franklin Pierce. Tracy and junior
Stephanie Howard (Norwalk, Conn./ Norwalk) each
had RBI doubles for the Ravens, with Howard also scoring a run.
Franklin Pierce (0-4, 0-0 NE-10) continues at the Tucson
Invitational Games tomorrow with another doubleheader day, as the
Ravens take on Manchester College (Ind.) at 11:15 a.m. and Doane
College (Neb.) at 1:15 p.m. local time. Nazareth (1-2) takes on
Wisconsin-Eau Claire later tonight, while Babson (4-3) has the day
off tomorrow before taking on California Lutheran University and
Morningside College on Wednesday.