RINDGE, N.H. (April 6, 2019) – Franklin Pierce University softball junior team captain Ashley Conway (Salem, N.H.) smoked a one-out walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Ravens a 4-3 extra-inning win during the second game of their doubleheader versus Northeast-10 Conference opponent Adelphi University Saturday afternoon at the Bisaccia Softball Complex. With the split (11-2, 5 inning game one loss) the Crimson and Grey move to 6-18, 2-8 NE10 and the Panthers record goes to 16-13, 9-2 NE10.

Conway played third base and catcher in the two tilts. She combined to go 3-for-6 with a double and four total RBI. Raven second game starter Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) threw 189 pitches in the complete game victory striking out a career-high matching 12 batters. Her record improved to 6-7 on the year and the 10 innings pitched were the third most all-time in program history and the first time since April 2, 2009, that a Raven hurler tossed nine or more innings (Courtney Jacobs vs. Queens (N.Y.)).

Game One: Panthers 11, Ravens 2 (Final - 5 Innings)

The Ravens only could muster three hits in the run-rule defeat. Conway went 1-for-2 at the dish with a double and two RBI. Freshman catcher Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) was 1-for-3 with a two-bagger and one run scored. Freshman center fielder Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) tallied the other hit for FPU.

For Adelphi, leadoff second baseman Emily Whitman exploded for three hits, three RBI, a triple and two runs scored. First baseman Emily Turney drove home three runs as well and smoked a double. Ally Muller started in the circle for the Panthers and improved to 11-5 striking out three batters in the victory.

Pierce had an opportunity to cross the plate first in the home half of the first inning. Lopez singled up the middle that deflected off a glove and went into center field. Two walks which sandwiched a strikeout loaded the bases for the Ravens. Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) had the bases loaded and promptly grounded into a fielder's choice, which saw Lopez thrown out at the plate. Conway fouled out to third to end the inning.

Adelphi took the lead in the top of the third scoring seven runs to take a 7-0 lead. Three straight hits, a bunt single, a single to center and a pulled double off the bat of Turney down the left field line just out of the diving reach of Conway made it 2-0 Panthers. With one away, three more runs were plated via a double to left field, a single, and a passed ball upping the margin to 5-0. Whitman ended the spurt with a single to center giving her squad the big lead.

FPU did some damage with two outs in the bottom of the third. Martinez slapped a double to right center field while freshman Cat Simmons (Pine Plains, N.Y.) and Hinckley worked two-out walks to load the bases. Conway dug in and smoked a double into the left-center field gap cutting the margin to 7-2.

In the top of the fifth, the Panthers added four runs with the big blow being Whitman's RBI three-bagger to right field to ice the game.

Game Two: Ravens 4, Panthers 3 (Final – 10 Innings)

Conway had the only multi-hit game for the Ravens as she went 2-for-4 in the box with two RBI. First baseman Lexi Garcia (Sylmar, Calif.) brought home the other two runs with a two-run single. Shortstop Jess Rego's (Richmond, R.I.) keen eye at the plate led to a game-high three walks and two runs scored.

Adelphi center fielder Nicoletta Cuccio smacked a game-tying home run with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Shortstop Kailah Konkel brought home the other run lofting a sacrifice fly. Jessica Vadala took the loss dropping to 1-5 on the year scattering three hits while walking six and sending five Ravens back to the dugout by strikeout.

FPU loaded the bases in the bottom of the first off a walk and two hit by pitches. Conway immediately walked to bring home the game's first run. The next batter, Garcia singled into center field just past the diving Panther shortstop and second baseman to knock home two runs, however, Conway was gunned down at third which gave the Ravens a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the second, Zemaitis punched out the side working around one walk. The sophomore fireballer did not allow a hit until the top of the sixth inning when she gave up a 3-2 leadoff double to right center field. The bases were eventually loaded against Zemaitis and Konkel flew out to the Raven second baseman, a couple of feet into right field for a sacrifice fly cutting into the lead at 3-1.

Zemaitis was one strike away from closing the door on the Panthers until Whitman tripled into the right-centerfield gap. On the next pitch, Cuccio stunned the Ravens and their fans barreling a two-run tater to deep center deadlocking the score 3-3.

In the top of the 10th, Cuccio was placed on second base, Zemaitis induced a sharply hit grounder to third base that was picked successfully by Simmons and fired to first for the opening out. Zemaitis then sent down Lauren Sandelier looking for out number two. Next, the defensive play of the game happened. Panther catcher Hannah Pineda demolished a line drive to center field. Raven Maiah Lopez decided to come in and layout in a full on dive catching the ball one handed before it hit the ground for the third and final out. If the ball got by Lopez it could of easily been an extra base hit.

The Ravens came for their hacks and Rego moved up to third base on a wild pitch. Martinez walked to put runners at the corners and no outs. Simmons fouled out to left field for the first out. With the infield in, Hinckley smacked a single to first base, the Adelphi first baseman threw home and Rego went back to third base keeping the bases jacked for Pierce. Conway then walloped the walk-off hit over the Panthers left fielder's head for the game winning run.

The Ravens wrap up their four game weekend home stand with a doubleheader tomorrow against conference foe Pace University at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.

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).