RINDGE, N.H. (April 7, 2019) – Following a walk-off victory yesterday, the Franklin Pierce University softball team was looking to carry momentum over to their two games Sunday, but were upended by Northeast-10 Conference opponent Pace University 14-1 in six innings and 5-3 in eight frames. With the wins, the Setters improve to 8-15 overall and 4-11 NE10 while the Crimson and Grey suffered their 20th setback overall and 10th of their conference slate.

Freshman catcher Allie Martinez (Upland, Calif.) swung a hot bat in both contests for the Ravens going a combined 3-for-6 at the plate with a double, one run scored and a walk. Classmate Cat Simmons (Pine Plains, N.Y.) bashed her team-leading fifth homer of the year in the second game. Simmon's fifth round-tripper tied her for third all-time in a single season matching Sydney Despres's five taters hit in 2014.

Game One: Setters 14, Ravens 1 (Final - 6 Innings)

Freshman left fielder Caitlyn Munzing (Beverly, Mass.) had the only two-hit game for the Ravens in the run-rule loss. Sophomore shortstop Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.) brought home the lone run via a sacrifice fly.

The Setters were led by shortstop Briana Ryan and first baseman Annie Carberry. Ryan was 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored. Carberry also produced a two-hit ball game knocking in three runs as well. Setter pitcher Mackenzie Garrick tossed all six innings scattering six hits allowing one earned run and two walks.

Pace struck first in the top of the first. Back to back singles to begin the game had runners at first and second until Lindsey Ah Soon sacrificed her teammates over. Ryan immediately singled up the middle on a 3-2 pitch plating the first run. Ryan's theft of second base was key as Carberry pulled a single into left-center field upping their margin to 3-0. A Raven fielding error plated another run pushing the early guest lead to 4-0.

Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the second, the Ravens threatened to crack the scoring column. One out walks by first baseman Lexi Garcia (Sylmar, Calif.) and second baseman Kaitlyn Rooney (Shirley, Mass.) coupled with a Munzing single through the left side of the infield loaded the bases for Pierce. The Ravens promptly were retired thanks to a lineout and a fielder's choice putout.

An RBI groundout and a single to the Raven pitcher expanded Pace's lead to 8-0. FPU staved off run-rule defeat in the bottom of the fifth with a first batter singled in the bottom of the fifth. Munzing took second base on a passed ball and advanced to third base via a freshman Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) single. Rego then lifted a sacrifice fly to center for the lone Raven run.

Pace chipped on six more runs with the big blow being an Emma Carruth two-RBI single to center to complete the victory.

Game Two: Setters 5, Ravens 3 (Final – 8 Innings)

For the second time in as many days, the Ravens needed extra frames to decide a winner, this time they did not come out on top though. Martinez had a two-hit game going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Simmons accounted for the only Raven runs walloping a three-run bomb to center field. Junior lefty Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) allowed five runs – two earned while striking out three batters.

Center fielder Arielle Acosta had the big blow smacking the game-winning two-run single in the top of the eighth inning. Designated player Niyah Brown and Carberry tallied two hits each. Kate Dolinski was the winning pitcher improving to 4-5 on the year scattering four hits and four walks while punching out two batters.

The guests took a 1-0 lead early as Carberry singled to right center and advanced to second base off a sacrifice bunt. Backstop Zoie Iverson was sent back to the dugout looking and Lindsey Ah Soon whacked one of her three hits, a single to center for the RBI.

Two more runs came across the plate in the top of the third both with two outs. Ryan tripled to deep center field to plate Carruth and Carberry struck out and reached first on a passed ball which allowed Ryan to score. Both runs were unearned to Mamone's ledger.

FPU tied the game with one big swing of the bat. Lopez worked a leadoff walk and Martinez singled up the middle. Simmons dug into the box and demolished a 2-0 pitch over the center field fence for the three-run moonshot.  

Pierce could not get much going after that. Acosta's single in the top of the eighth gave them the lead 5-3. They looked to add a couple more runs when Hinckley dropped the ball in right field, but she threw a dart home to gun down Raechelle Siel keeping the deficit at 5-3. The Ravens put one runner on in the bottom of the eighth, however, Hinckley grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the ballgame.

The Ravens head out on the road for a single game at Saint Anselm College on Tuesday with first pitch set for 3:00 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).