Allen and Adee turn in complete-game wins by each allowing a run on four hits

COLCHESTER, Vt. (April 24, 2013) -- The Franklin Pierce University softball team for the second time this season on Wednesday swept a doubleheader from Saint Michael's. Wednesday's satisfying sweep came on the road in Colchester, Vt., as the Ravens exploded late for a 5-1 win in game one and then clipped the Purple Knights, 2-1, in game two at Doc Jacobs Field. Franklin Pierce improved to 8-26 overall and 5-19 in the Northeast-10 (4-12 Northeast Division), while St. Mike's fell to 2-37 and 2-24 in league play (2-16 NE Div).

The Ravens got a pair of complete-game performances from senior Rachel Allen (Hull, Mass.) in the first game and freshman Mandi Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) in the second game. Each hurler, ironically, yielded one run on only four hits in their respective starts. Allen improved to 5-9 on the year, while Adee raised her mark to 3-5.

Allen faced the minimum number of batters over the first four innings, including getting out of a jam in the first by inducing Bethany Falls to line into an inning ending double play. She retired the Purple Knights in order in the second and induced them into another inning ending double play in the third. Allen once again set down St. Mike's in order in the fourth, including getting the Purple Knights to hit a pair of harmless ground outs.

With Allen being dominant in the pitching circle, the Ravens' bats finally broke through with five runs over the final two innings, including a trio of them in the sixth to go up 3-0. Sam Conners (Jackson, N.J.) and Alicia Dean (Danvers, Mass.) smacked back-to-back RBI doubles to left field, while the latter came home to score later in the frame on an RBI single down the right field line from Karissa Forzese (Methuen, Mass.).

Franklin Pierce tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Melissa Morgan (Clifton Park, N.Y.) reached on an error and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. Dean added a second RBI to her total with another double to left field, which scored Conners, who walked the previous at-bat.

St. Mike's plated a run in the seventh, but Allen kept the Purple Knights at bay in not pulling off a comeback.

Adee was more than up to the challenge of equaling Allen's accomplishments in the second game. She retired seven of the first eight batters she faced, but got into some trouble in the bottom of the third when Amanda Brigante laced a run-scoring single back through the middle of the infield, scoring Carleen McLaughlin on the play.

Adee didn't fold and kept Saint Michael's silent in both the fourth and fifth innings before Franklin Pierce's bats awoke for a pair of runs in the sixth. With one out in the frame, Morgan blasted a double and Ashley Noke (Cumberland, R.I.) followed with a single and both players came around to score later on a St. Mike's error.

The two runs were enough for Adee over the final two innings and she avoided a small crisis in the seventh by inducing a double play to seal the win for the Ravens.

Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) had three hits on the day, including a pair in the second game.

Stephanie Frank took the loss in the circle in game one for St. Mike's, while Jessica Niles suffered the loss in game two.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Thursday when the Ravens travel to Easton, Mass. to take on Stonehill in a doubleheader 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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce softball apparel can do so on the athletic department's online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)