NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (March 1, 2020) - The Franklin Pierce University softball team opened up the month of March with a doubleheader against the Mounties of Mansfield University in their first matchup of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The first game was tightly contested all the way to the seventh inning, but the Ravens were not able to hold on losing 3-1. Bouncing back though the Ravens took an early lead in game two that would prove to be enough for the split, a 5-3 victory.

With the two games, the Ravens earn their first loss of the 2020 campaign but bring their record to 5-1 early in the season while the Mounties fall to 2-4 in the early part of their season.

Game One: Mounties 3, Ravens 1 (Final)

Mansfield took an early lead in the top of the second inning thanks to a solo home run from sophomore Alexis Easling. Not long after in the bottom of the second the Ravens would get base runners on the paths with junior Jenna Curtis (Orange Park, Fla.) walking then senior Kaitlyn Rooney (Shirley, Mass.) getting on base with a single. Heavy-hitting Ali Martinez (Upland, Calif.) was able to bring Curtis home from second on a single, but she was gunned down at second.

The tie would last all the way to the top of the seventh inning when with one swing of the bat the Mounties took a two-run lead over the Ravens. Easling was able to close out the game with a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win pitching all seven innings.

Senior Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) started the game for the Ravens and pitched four innings giving up one run on five hits and a walk before being replaced by freshman Madison Labrie (New Ipswich, N.H.) in the fifth inning. Labrie gave up two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out two batters earning the loss in the process.

Game Two: Ravens 5, Mounties 3 (Final)

The Ravens opened up game two with the offense firing on all cylinders. Sophomore Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) and Curtis found themselves in scoring position for senior Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) at the plate. Hinckley scorched a double into left-center to bring home the two baserunners and take a 2-0 lead. Hinckley would score on a sacrifice fly out by junior Ashley Rosario (Queensbury, N.Y.) to extend the lead to three.

Mansfield would get onto the board with a run in the third inning. Senior Devin Jones put a ball into play and brought home O'Donnell from home.

The two-run deficit would not last long as the Ravens once again extended their lead this time to 4-1. Lopez crossed home plate for the second time in the game with help from freshman Hailey Melchert (Lake Orion, Mich.). Lopez would finish 1-for-2 from the plate with a walk and two runs scored.

The Ravens second run of the inning came on the next at-bat as sophomore Lexi Garcia (Sylmar, Calif.) reached first on a fielder's choice allowing Madi Killebrew (Dana Point, Calif.) to reach home.

Down 5-1 the Mounties looked to stage a comeback scoring two more runs before the end of the game. The first came in the bottom of the fourth with an unearned run for Rebecca Pizzo after teammate Abbey Woodard reached base on an error. The second came an inning later in the fifth off a single from Jones scoring Joelle Snyder.

Junior Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) kept her strong start of the season earning the win moving her record to 3-0 on the campaign. In the process, Zemaitis faced 16 batters over four innings striking out two while only giving up five hits and a single earned run. Mamone got the save for the Ravens. Her second of the season pitching three innings racking up one strikeout and four hits against in the process.

On the losing end for the Mounties was freshman Danielle Goff who is winless in two tries with an 0-2 record so far this season. Goff faced 19 batters giving up eight hits and five runs before being replaced in the middle of the third inning.

The Ravens are back in action tomorrow as they continue play in the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic at the NMB Sports Complex with a matchup against Chestnut Hill College at 11:30 a.m. then a battle with division three opponent Eastern Mennonite University at 1:30 p.m. Both games will be played on field six.

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).