Jessica Furtado drives in five runs on the day, including blasting a home run in game one and a triple in game two

RINDGE, N.H. (March 26, 2012) -- The Franklin Pierce University softball team picked up its third and fourth-straight wins on Monday as the Ravens swept a doubleheader from Bentley at the FPU Softball Field in Rindge. The Ravens downed the Falcons, 10-2, in six innings in game one and then picked up a 3-0 triumph in game two. Franklin Pierce improved to 7-8 overall and an impressive 5-1 in the Northeast-10, while Bentley dipped to 3-11 and 1-5 in league play.

The Ravens got an outstanding pitching effort in both games, but especially from junior Rachel Allen (Hull, Mass.) in game two, as for the second time in as many days, she pitched a complete game victory. Against Bentley, Allen yielded zero runs on only two hits with a eight strikeouts and only one walk.

Allen retired the Falcons in order in the third, fifth and sixth innings and only allowed four Bentley base runners to get into scoring position. 

Freshman Kaitlyn Johnson (New Boston, N.H.) got the start in the circle for Franklin Pierce in game one and picked up the victory after going all six innings and allowing two runs on six hits with a strikeout and four walks.

Franklin Pierce also had a strong day at the plate, especially in game one as the Ravens pounded out 16 hits and shortened the game by one inning as they kicked in the eight-run rule. Six Ravens had multiple hits in the game, including junior Megan Bird (Laconia, N.H.) and senior Rachel Baxter (Cumberland, R.I.), who each went 3-for-4 and drove in three and two runs, respectively. Bird and Baxter each crossed home plate twice. Junior Jessica Furtado (Taunton, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with three RBI, including blasting a two-run homer, while sophomore Jamie Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) and freshmen Alicia Dean (Danvers, Mass.) and Laura Eidam (Stamford, Conn.) each had a pair of hits.

The Ravens scratched out their first run of the game with two outs in the bottom of the third inning as Bird singled to center field, scoring Baxter on the play, who led off the frame with an infield base hit.

Franklin Pierce then ripped the game open with five runs on six-consecutive singles in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. Senior Jayme Bilafer (Concord, Mass.) drove in the frame's first run on a bunt single, scoring freshman Karissa Forzese (Methuen, Mass.). Bird collected two more RBI with a single to center field, scoring Bilafer and Baxter. Furtado also stroked a base hit to center and brought in Dean on the play. Eidam drove in the frame's final run with another single to center field, as Bird scored on the play.

Bentley got two runs back in the fifth to pull within 6-2. Stephanie Kasson singled to lead off the frame and came around to score on Laura McDonough's RBI triple to right field. Shannon Connor followed a batter later and drove in Kasson with a groundout to short.

The Ravens, though, capped the victory with four more runs in the sixth to earn the eight-run margin. Furtado ripped a homer over the left-field wall, scoring Bird, who singled one at-bat earlier. Baxter ended the game with a two-run single to right field, scoring Wiley and Eidam.
The Ravens continued their strong hitting and pitching in game two as they picked up their second doubleheader sweep in as many days.

With Allen pitching a beauty in the circle, Franklin Pierce gave her some run support with a tally in the second inning as senior Meaghan O'Neal (Littleton, Mass.) laid down a successful sacrifice bunt, scoring Wiley, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the frame.

Furtado capped her sizzling offensive day with a two-run triple in the fifth to stake the Ravens to a 3-0 lead. Dean and Bird scored on the play as they reached via a walk and single, respectively.

Allen retired Bentley in order in the sixth and held the Falcons at bay in the seventh to pick up the victory.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Wednesday when the Ravens play host to Merrimack in a doubleheader at FPU Softball Field beginning at 3 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce softball, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens).