Recap by student-staff writer Joe McLaughlin

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (4/11/25) - The Franklin Pierce softball team could not contain the American International Yellowjackets in their road doubleheader on Friday, dropping game one 10-6 and game two 12-6, resulting in their third-straight loss.

Scores:
Game 1: Franklin Pierce 6, American International 10
Game 2: Franklin Pierce 6, American International 12
Records: Franklin Pierce 15-15 (4-6 NE10), American International 8-12 (4-6 NE10)
Location: Judy Groff Field, Springfield, MA
Date: April, 11th, 2025

Game 1:

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Ravens opened the scoring in the top of the second as sophomore catcher Charlit Hartenstein (Massapequa, NY) struck a single down the third baseline to score first-year first baseman Maisie Lerette (New Gloucester, ME) to make it 1-0 Ravens.
• The Yellowjackets were quick to respond in the bottom of the second as Destiny McGrath crushed a 3-run home run to deep center field to lift the Yellowjackets to a 3-1 lead.
• The game then quickly got out of hand in the third as the Yellowjackets tacked seven more runs on the board. Morgan Bemont started the inning's scoring by walking with the bases loaded, scoring Julia Krijgsman. Then Brianna Salazar followed, walking with the bases loaded to score Jilien Ayala. After that, Nevaeh Trejo crushed a single to left field to score Lauryn Ramalho. Then, Morgan Bemont scored on a wild pitch. Julia Krijgsman then drove in two runs on an RBI double to left-center, scoring Nevaeh Trejo and Brianna Salazar. Lauryn Ramalho then singled into left, scoring Destiny McGrath to give the Yellowjackets a comfortable 10-1 lead after three.
• The Ravens attempted to come back in the fourth inning as senior third baseman Haley Bigwood (Athol, MA) scored three runs on a single to left field. Bigwood would advance to second on an error from the left fielder. This same error scored Maisie Lerette, first-year left fielder Zoey Galindo (Lakewood, CA), and senior shortstop Lita Vorseth (Mesa, AZ) to put the Ravens within six runs.
• The Ravens continued with their momentum in the fifth inning. Zoey Galindo drove in first-year infielder Kaylee Fraund (Murietta, CA) on a fielder's choice to make it 10-5 yellowjackets.
• The Ravens scored again in the sixth as senior outfielder Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ) singled down the third baseline to score first-year second baseman Taylor Ellis (Crandall, TX) to make it 10-6 Yellowjackets. However, the Ravens would run out of steam and the Yellowjackets would hold on to the 10-6 lead for the rest of the game.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS

• It was a high hitting contest, but the Yellowjackets out hit the Ravens 12-11.
• The Ravens' weakness in this game was their walks, as they gave up 9 walks to the Yellowjackets' 5, with two of those walks directly resulting in runs with the bases loaded.
• The Yellowjackets did commit the only error of the game, but it did not affect them as they controlled the lead for the majority of the game.

Game 2:

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Ravens again started scoring in game two. In the top of the first, sophomore right fielder Georgia Clough (Barriere, British Columbia) doubled to left field and scored junior designated player Savannah Arreguin (Los Angeles, CA) to give the Ravens a 1-0 lead.
• The Yellowjackets tied it quickly in the second as Sammy Sanchez singled to left field to score Jilien Ayala. They then took the lead courtesy of a Lauryn Ramalho single down the third baseline, followed by Isabel Robinson scoring on a throwing error. Then Deirdre Curley scored on a wild pitch to put the Yellowjackets ahead 3-1.
• The Ravens then reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning. Senior first baseman Anna Erikson (Temecula, CA) struck a 3-RBI double to left field, scoring Maisie Lerette, Haley Bigwood, and Taylor Ellis. After that, Charlit Hartenstein crushed a homer to left to score Anna Erikson, giving the Ravens a 6-3 lead.
• The Yellowjackets quickly took back the lead and command of the game, scoring nine unanswered runs in the bottom of the fourth. Destiny McGrath started the rally with a walk with the bases loaded, scoring Brooklyn Cividanes. Then, Nevaeh Trejo hit a single into center to score Deirdre Curley. Following that, Julia Krijgsman doubled to left field to score Destiny McGrath and Lauryn Ramalho. After that, Sammy Sanchez struck out swinging, but Nevaeh Trejo scored on the wild pitch. Then, Morgan Bemont singled to left field, scoring Julia Krijgsman. And finally, Brooklyn Cividanes homered to deep left field, scoring Morgan Bemont to give the Yellowjackets a 12-6 lead they would maintain for the rest of the game.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS

• The Yellowjackets once again out hit the Ravens, this time 11-9.
• The Ravens struggled defensively in game two, committing three errors to the Yellowjackets' 1.
• The Ravens also left 7 runners on base compared to the Yellowjackets' 6.

UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens originally were slated to play a home doubleheader tomorrow afternoon, but due to inclement weather, the series had to be postponed. The Ravens now look ahead to a doubleheader series against the Saint Michael's Purple Knights in Colchester, VT. First pitch for game one will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, April 14th.