Recap by student-staff writer Rich Rosa 

RINDGE, N.H (4/26/2024) -- The Franklin Pierce softball team swept Southern Connecticut State Friday afternoon to improve to 12-8 in the Northeast-10 Conference. 

Score (Game 1): Franklin Pierce 3, SCSU 0
Score (Game 2): Franklin Pierce 9, SCSU 3 
Records: Franklin Pierce (25-13, 12-8 NE-10), SCSU (15-23, 6-14 NE-10)   
Location: Rindge, N.H (Melissa Bisaccia Field)
Date: Friday, April 26, 2024   

HOW IT HAPPENED:   

• In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Franklin Pierce scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman pitcher Raylee Gilbert (Waterville, ME) had a 2 RBI pinch-hit triple, scoring senior infielder Haley Bigwood (Athol, MA) and junior outfielder Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ). Next, senior third baseman Susannah Campos (Lemoore, CA) grounded to short, and sophomore outfielder Amy Jones (San Diego, CA) scored to make it 3-0 Ravens. Franklin Pierce held on in the top of the seventh to pick up the game one win over Southern Connecticut State. 

• In Game 2, the Ravens struck first in the first inning. Williams scored from second base on a wild pitch by SCSU pitcher Ashley Lewis. Junior infielder Lita Vorseth (Mesa, AZ) reached first on an error, and Bigwood scored from third base. 

• In the top of the third, SCSU graduate pitcher Jessica Perucki had an RBI double, scoring senior outfielder Emily Lange to cut the Ravens lead in half. In the bottom of the third, Campos had a 2 RBI pinch-hit single, scoring Williams and senior catcher Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, MA) to make it 4-1 Franklin Pierce. Then, Sophomore outfielder Andie Anderson (Phoenix, AZ) reached first on an error, and senior infielder Jenna Murray (Wilbraham, MA), Campos, and Vorseth scored to make it 7-1. 

• In the top of the fourth, Lange had an RBI double, scoring sophomore infielder Nadia Cestari and junior infielder Dominique DeLutri to cut the Ravens lead to four. In the bottom of the fifth, Anderson had a 2 RBI triple, scoring Hartenstein and Jones to make it 9-3 Ravens. The Ravens picked up their 25th win of the season. 

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:   

• In Game 1 of the doubleheader, senior pitcher Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, AZ) pitched her ninth complete game and picked up her thirteenth win of the season. She pitched seven scoreless innings, gave up five hits, one walk, and struck out six batters.

• Franklin Pierce outhit SCSU 7-5. 

• Williams went 2 for 3 and scored a run. Murray went 1 for 2. Anderson went 1 for 1 and drew a walk. 

• In Game 2, senior pitcher Samantha Sylvester (Morris, CT) picked her sixth win of the season, and pitched four innings. She gave up six hits, three runs, one walk, and struck out three batters. Freshman pitcher Kennedy Morris (Stafford, CT) pitched three scoreless innings in relief, gave up no hits, and struck out three batters. 

• Franklin Pierce outhit SCSU 7-6. The Owls had four errors. 

• Freshman catcher Charlit Hartenstein (Massapequa, NY) went 2 for 3 and scored a run. Williams went 1 for 4 and scored two runs. Anderson went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs. 

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS:   

• The Ravens remain at home for the 2024 doubleheader regular season finale as they take on New Haven. Game one is at noon, followed by game two at 2 p.m. 

• Franklin Pierce's seniors will be honored with their families before game one.