Recap by student-staff writer Colin Struckman 

RINDGE, N.H. (4/9/2024) – The Franklin Pierce University Ravens softball team earned a split against the Saint Michael's Purple Knights on Tuesday afternoon, winning the first contest 8-5, but falling 11-6 in the twin bill.  

GAME 1 
Score: Franklin Pierce 8, Saint Michael's 5 
Records: Franklin Pierce (13-9, 4-4 NE-10), Saint Michael's (5-15, 1-5 NE-10) 
Location: Bisaccia Field, Rindge, NH 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Ravens opened the flood gates in the bottom of the 1^st inning. Sam Sylvester (Morris, CT) and Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ) each singled with 1 out, which set up Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) who smoked a triple to right field, scoring both Sylvester and Williams to put the Ravens ahead 2-0. Georgia Clough (Barriere, British Columbia) followed it up by ripping a double to left field, scoring Cangiano to give them the 3-0 lead.  
• The Ravens lineup kept firing in the bottom of the 2^nd. Jenna Murray (Wilbraham, MA) began the inning with a single to center field. Then, Amy Jones (San Diego, Calif.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Murray to second. Haley Bigwood (Athol, MA) followed that up by loading the bases with a single to third. Sam Sylvester drew a walk which scored Murray, giving the Ravens the 4-0 lead. The Ravens continued to execute the small ball to perfection as Ashley Cangiano reached first on a fielder's choice to the shortstop, which scored Amy Jones from third, making it a 5-0 Ravens lead after 2 innings.  
• The Purple Knights grabbed their first runoff the game thanks to a solo shot from Meghan Connor in the top of the 5^th inning, making it a 5-1 deficit for the Purple Knights. 
• The Ravens responded with 3 runs in the bottom of the 6^th. Amy Jones singled to the shortstop, then Haley Bigwood drilled a double to left field, scoring Jones to make it 6-1 Ravens. Sam Sylvester kept the party going with a single to right field, bringing in Bigwood and giving the Ravens the commanding 7-1 lead. Bella Williams then reached on a fielder's choice to third. She stole second, which set up Ashley Cangiano who took advantage and singled to left field, scoring Williams to put them up 8-1.  
• The Purple Knights made it interesting in the top of the 7^th inning. They scored 4 runs to make it an 8-5 ballgame, as Jenna Devens clobbered a 3-run homer. The Ravens were able to hold on in the 7^th for the 8-5 victory in Game 1.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• The Ravens outhit the Purple Knights 13 to 8. 
• The Ravens recorded 2 errors.  
• Ashley Cangiano recorded a game-high 4 RBIs.  

GAME 2 
Score: Franklin Pierce 6, Saint Michael's 11 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The game started off scoreless through the first 2 innings. The Purple Knights broke the tie in the top of the 3^rd with an RBI single from Jenna Devens and an RBI walk drawn by Riley Sroczinski to go up 2-0.  
• The Ravens pulled within a run in the bottom of the 3^rd inning. Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Ariz.) led off the inning with a single to right field, then Andie Anderson (Phoenix, Ariz.) came in as a pinch runner. She stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. She jumped on another wild pitch, scoring from third to make it a 2-1 Purple Knights lead.  
• The top of the 4^th inning didn't treat the Ravens kindly. The Purple Knights ripped off 9 runs to take a commanding 11-1 lead, highlighted by RBI doubles by Angelica Johns, Brooke Edgerly, an CJ Davidson and a 2-run homer from Meghan Connor.  
• The Ravens got 3 runs back in the bottom of the 4^th to make it an 11-4 deficit. Sam Sylvester (Morris, Conn.) led off the inning with a walk, followed up by an RBI double down the left side of the infield, scoring Sylvester. Then, Georgia Clough (Barriere, British Columbia) smacked a single up the middle, scoring Cangiano. Clough moved to second on a passed ball, then Lita Vorseth added her 2^nd hit of the game as she singled to right field, scoring Clough to make it an 11-4 Purple Knights lead.  
• The Ravens needed a miracle in the bottom of the 7^th but came up short. The inning started with Savannah Arreguin (Pacoima, Calif.) reached first on an error by the shortstop. She then moved to second on a wild pitch. Haley Bigwood reached first on a single to the pitcher, which moved Arreguin to third and an error by the pitcher brought her home, making it 11-5 Purple Knights. The Ravens couldn't keep the rally alive and couldn't complete the sweep over Saint Michael's, dropping Game 2 11-5.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• The Purple Knights outhit the Ravens 10 to 8.  
• The Ravens recorded 4 errors, the Purple Knights recorded 2.  

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens resume action on Thursday afternoon with a non-conference doubleheader against the Queens College Knights slated for 2 and 4 p.m. at Bisaccia Field.