EASTON, Mass. (April 25, 2015) – Juniors Morgan Cahill (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) each did their part to help the Franklin Pierce University softball team close out their 2015 season on a positive note, as the split a doubleheader against the Stonehill College Skyhawks by final scores of 5-0 in a loss, and a 3-2 win in their final game of the year at Gartland Field.

With the split, the Ravens end their season with an overall record of 8-19 (8-16 Northeast-10) while Stonehill's season ends at 20-14 (13-8 Northeast-10).

Game one didn't go as planned for Franklin Pierce, as freshman Jenna Rodriguez (New Egypt, N.J.) found herself on the wrong end of a tough Skyhawk offense, as they dropped five runs in the first two innings before running Rodriguez from the game. Home runs from Michelle Carbonne, a three-run home run, and Jacklyn Oleksak, a two-run homer, were all the scoring Stonehill would need. Junior Mandi Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) would replace Rodriguez on the mound and put up goose eggs for the remainder of the frames in the loss.

Franklin Pierce only mustered three hits on the game, two from junior Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.) and senior Karissa Forzese (Methuen, Mass.), who smashed a double. Megan Ruonavaara went the distance giving up the three hits, one walk, and striking out three.

Game two swung the other way for the Ravens, as a three-run comeback inning in the third propelled them to victory. However, Stonehill would draw first blood in the bottom of the second, as Ruonavaara would pain the Ravens with her bat this time, delivering a two-run home run off of Hansen, who started in the circle in game two.

The Ravens pulled together in the next half inning, turning into the classic "Comeback Ravens", manufacturing three runs to take the lead off of Skyhawk pitcher Sarah Ropiak. Freshman Jillian Ostrander (Glens Falls, N.Y.) would lead off the inning with a walk, and would move up to second by freshman Samantha Bonvino (Milford, Mass.). Hansen would step up and do work with her bat, knocking a single to center and moving Ostrander to third.

Hansen and Ostrander then combined for a double steal, scoring Ostrander from third while Hansen swiped second. Senior Alicia Dean (Danvers, Mass.) then walked, putting runners on first and second base. A few batters later, Cahill would step up and deliver the knockout blow, a double to the right center field gap, scoring both Hansen and Dean to give the Ravens a 3-2 lead.

Hansen would take control and hold down the Skyhawks for the remainder of the game, going the distance for her fifth win of the season. Ropiak would take the loss, moving her record to 11-8.

A milestone note for the Ravens, as Dean will end her career at Franklin Pierce second on the career list for walks with 59, putting her one behind Stephanie Howard with 60.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). 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' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).