LITTLE RIVER, S.C. (March 2, 2020) - While their classmates back home in Rindge went to class on a normal Monday morning the Franklin Pierce University softball team continued play in the Fast Pitch Dreams Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. with a twinbill on day two. The first was a tightly played matchup with Chestnut Hill College which saw junior pitcher Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) work the mound for six innings in the 3-1 win. The second game was a commanding 9-0 run-rule victory over Division III opponent Eastern Mennonite University after an impressive showing for the Ravens offense.

With the two wins, the Ravens move to 7-1 this season. The first month of the season has brought the Ravens more than half the amount of wins the team totaled in the 2019 season. Meanwhile, the Griffins of Chestnut Hill start their season on the wrong foot with a 0-1 record, and the Eastern Mennonite Royals move to 0-4 to start their 2020 campaign.

Game One: Ravens 3, Griffins 1 (Final)

The first game started off with a couple of base hits for both sides, but an offensive third inning for the Ravens created a 3-0 lead that would prove to be enough in the end. Sophomore Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) who has been hot at the plate this season got the offense started by getting on base before being moved along by the Boston University transfer Madi Killebrew (Dana Point, Calif.) who got on herself. Next up in the batting order Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.) was able to bring home Killebrew on an RBI triple. Lopez stole home for the first run of the game. Hailey Melchert (Lake Orion, Mich.) was able to get Killebrew across the plate via a single to center plating Hinckley.

While the Ravens offense would be held silent for the rest of the game the defense stood strong only allowing one run which came in the fifth inning. Sophomore outfielder Taylor Carter who was batting in the ninth spot of the order was able to get on base with the top of the lineup coming up to bat. Team captain Devon Horner would help her squad out batting in the run and bringing home Carter to bring the game to within two.

Unfortunately, for the Griffins no more runs would cross the plate as Zemaitis kept them off of the board in the sixth inning and senior Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) came into the game in the seventh and held the Griffins hitless in the final inning to notch her third save of the season. Zemaitis earned the win bringing her to 4-0 on the season. In the process, Zemaitis struck out ten batters while only giving up five hits and a walk in her six innings of work. It was the 10th double-digit strikeout game of her career and first of the season.

For Chestnut Hill, senior Kaley Wise earned the loss starting her senior season 0-1. She faced eighteen batters through four innings of work giving up five hits, two walks, and three earned runs while striking out two Ravens.

Game Two: Ravens 9, Royals 0 (Final – 5 Innings)

While the Ravens were held to less than five runs for only the second time this season in game one the bats were active in game two scoring nine total runs through the shortened five-inning game. Mamone got the start and worked for four innings giving up only two hits and striking out a single batter. Mamone's record moves to 1-0 with the win in her sixth appearance of the season.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring in the second inning with four Ravens crossing the plate. One of the runs was by sophomore Lexi Garcia (Sylmar, Calif.) who similar to Lopez has been playing well to start the campaign. Garcia advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring her first run of the game. Garcia would cross the plate again in the fourth inning to cap off her impressive day in the box going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs.

With four runs in the second inning and five more in the fifth, the Ravens offense set the table for the defense to keep the nine-run lead and end the game early due to the mercy rule. With Mamone in the circle, the defense stood tall and kept it rolling when head coach Andrew Klaus made the call to the bullpen for freshman Madison Labrie (New Ipswich, N.H.) who closed out the fifth inning keeping the Royals off of the bases and striking out two of the three batters she faced.

It was a tough day on the mound for the Royals needing three pitchers in the short five-inning game. Freshman DeAnna Roach started the game for Eastern Mennonite lasting only two innings after giving up four hits and two walks while watching four runs – two earned cross the plate. Junior Rebecca Crothers replaced Roach on the mound pitching for 1.1 innings giving up three hits and four runs to the nine Ravens batters she faced. Lastly, sophomore Emily Campbell finished the game for the Royals pitching the remaining inning and a two-thirds giving up one run in the process. Roach earned the loss moving her record to 1-0 on the season in her second appearance thus far.

The Ravens are back in action for day three of the Fast Pitch Dreams Classic in Little River, S.C. taking on Brescia University at 11:30 a.m. on Field 4 before a rematch against Chestnut Hill at 3:30 pm on Field 5.

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).