CLERMONT, Fla. (2/28/25) – The Franklin Pierce Ravens softball team opened their season down south with a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. They dropped the first game of the doubleheader to St. Cloud State 7-1 but turn around to take down Sioux Falls 8-7 in extra innings. 

Score: Game 1: St. Cloud State 7, Franklin Pierce 1, Game 2: Sioux Falls 7, Franklin Pierce 8 (8 innings) 
Records: Franklin Pierce (1-1), St. Cloud State (13-4), Sioux Falls (2-6) 
Location: Clermont, Fla. 
Date: Friday, February 28, 2025 

Game 1

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Ravens had a rough start in the bottom of the 1st inning, allowing a 3-run homer as the Huskies took the early 3-0 lead.  

• The Huskies tacked onto their lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning. It started with an RBI single to center field, then a double to center field, and a run scored on a wild pitch to take the commanding 7-0 lead.  

• The Ravens got a run back in the bottom of the 3rd inning as senior shortstop Haley Bigwood (Athol, Mass.) ripped a double to left field to score freshman right fielder Zoey Galindo (Lakewood, Calif.) and cut the deficit to 7-1. The Huskies held the lead for the remainder of the game and handed the Ravens the loss.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• The Huskies outhit the Ravens 8-4.  

• The Ravens didn't commit any errors, the Huskies committed 3.  

• Sophomore pitcher Georgia Clough (Barriere, British Columbia) started in the circle for the Ravens and suffered the loss. She pitched an inning and a third, giving up 6 hits, 7 earned runs, walking 3 batters, striking 3 batters, and allowing a home run.  

Game 2

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Cougars got off to a hot start in the top of the 1st inning. They used an RBI single to left and a double to right center to take the 2-0 lead, Then, an RBI double to left field scored 2 runs to take the 4-0 lead.  

• The Ravens cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the 1st inning. Senior Bella Williams (Phoenix, Arizona) reached on an error by the second baseman and Zoey Galindo scored a run to make it 4-1. Then, Georgia Clough whacked a single to center field to score Bella Williams and cut the deficit to 4-2.  

• The Ravens tied the score in the bottom of the 2nd. Georgia Clough reached first on an error by the shortstop, and it helped score Bella Williams and Zoey Galindo to tie the score 4-4.  

• The Cougars struck back in the top of the 4th inning for 2 runs to take the 6-4 lead with an RBI single to center field and ground out.  

• The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair as the Ravens tied the score once again in the bottom of the 4th inning. Georgia Clough added a pair of RBIs to her name as she smoked a double to center field to score Haley Bigwood and Zoey Galindo to knot the game up at 6 a piece.  

• The Ravens took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the 5th inning. Sophomore catcher Charlit Hartenstein (Massapequa, N.Y.) reached on an error by the shortstop to score freshman second baseman Danielle Bellieveau (Baldwinville, Mass.) and take the 7-6 lead.  

• The lead didn't last long as the Cougars tied it at 7 in the top of the 6th inning with a sacrifice fly to center field.  

• The game needed extra innings and the Ravens delivered the late game fireworks as they walked it off in the bottom of the 8th inning. Bella Williams rifled a single to center field to score junior outfielder Andie Anderson (Phoenix, Ariz.) giving the Ravens the 8-7 win, their first of the season. 

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• The Cougars outhit the Ravens 11-8.  

• The Ravens committed just 1 error, compared to 3 from the Cougars.  

• Georgia Clough earned the win for the Ravens. She pitched 2 innings in relief, giving up 1 hit, walking 4 batters, and striking out 2.  

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: 

The Ravens are back in action tomorrow (3/1) with a doubleheader in Clermont. It starts with Game 1 against Grand Valley State at 10 a.m. Game 2 is against Mary at 2:45 p.m.