Rindge, N.H. (4/3/22) – Sundays have been notoriously busy for Franklin Pierce Softball so far this season, but the results have all been all-too familiar for the Ravens with another pair of wins secured this afternoon against Southern Connecticut State University in an NE10 doubleheader matchup. Game one featured a career first for freshman Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ), who hit her first collegiate home run in the 9-5 win, and late game heroics from graduate Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, MA) in game two saw the Ravens end with a walk-off victory, 4-3 in extra innings.

Softball remains unbeaten with a 16-0 overall record after today's pair of wins. On the losing side, Southern Connecticut dips to 8-12 this season.

Game One:

The Ravens quickly found themselves clawing back after some early success Southern Connecticut, who scored the game's first run just two batters in. Owls graduate Jayden Delaporta, who drove in the first run, would score off a passed ball to make it 2-0 in the first inning. After two quick outs in the bottom half, the Ravens got the bats working with two runners on base. Sophomore Haley Bigwood (Athol, MA) sent a ball down the left field line for a double, scoring both runners to knot it up at 2-2.

The Owls would retake the lead 3-2 at the top of the second inning, with Bigwood returning to the plate in the bottom of the third inning wanting more. Once again with two runners on, Bigwood singled to center field, scoring her second RBI of the game while moving a runner to third. Junior Hailey Melchert (Lake Orion, MI) was next in the order, and scored the runner from third on a sacrifice flyout to left field, granting the Ravens their first lead of the game.

The Owls returned fire to tie it up 4-4- in the fourth inning, setting the table for freshman Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ) to make personal history with her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot over the left field fence to put the Ravens up 6-4. In the bottom of the fifth, another first-year member Lita Vorseth (Mesa, AZ) extended the lead to 7-4 with a solo home run, her second long ball of the season.  

The finishing touches were added in the bottom of the sixth inning, after Southern Connecticut narrowed the deficit to 7-5 in the top half of the frame. Starting at the top of the order, junior Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) kicked it off with a single to left field, which transitioned into stealing second to put herself in scoring position. Riding the hot hand, Bella Williams scored Konopinski from second on a double to left field to re-establish a three-run lead. Williams would cross home plate on a sacrifice fly from graduate infielder Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, MA), scoring what would be the deciding run in the 9-5 victory.

Improving to 7-0 this season with a team bets 1.19 ERA, sophomore Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, AZ) pitched through five innings after getting the start, striking out three batters and allowing nine hits in the winning effort. Senior pitcher Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, FL) entered the game in relief, securing one strikeout to help close out the victory, earning the save.

Game Two:

Southern Connecticut would open the scoring once again in game number two, with Owls junior Morgan Tuscano hitting a solo home run after a scoreless first inning. Jacqueline Dumont, an Owls senior, would make it 2-0 at the top of the fourth inning, driving in an RBI off a double to the gap in left center field.

Entering the bottom of the fifth, after being held scoreless with just four hits, the Ravens came to life with a single to left field from Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) which scored a runner from second base to get them on the board. Konopinski followed up by stealing second, setting up the team leader in RBI's Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, MA) to drive in the tying run off a double.

Taking a 2-2 tie into extras, both teams would play through two scoreless innings to reach the ninth inning. Attempting to take some wind out of the Ravens' sails, Jacqueline Dumont broke the tie on the first pitch of the inning with a solo home run to right-center field. However, as they had done earlier in the contest, Franklin Pierce was not going quietly.

Senior infielder Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, CA) reached first base on a shot up the middle, and was swapped with freshman Anna Erikson (Temecula, CA) as the pinch runner. With two outs while still trailing 3-2, Erikson stole second base to bring up Bella Williams (Phoenix, AZ), who would tie it up again 3-3 with another ground ball up the middle, scoring Erikson from second base. Williams would then successfully take second base on a steal, with Gina Hinckley back at the plate. With an energetic finish, Hinckley sent a ground ball just out of the reach of the Southern Connecticut shortstop and into center field, scoring Williams from second to walk it off for the Ravens 4-3 in extra innings.

Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, FL) returned to the circle for the start in game two, pitching all nine innings for a new career best in single-game innings pitched, striking out three batters in the win. This season, Primavera improves to 6-0 with the win, with a 1.20 ERA.

Softball will return to Bisaccia Field this Tuesday for a makeup doubleheader against NE10 opponent New Haven (Prev. scheduled 4/2/22). First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 PM, with the second game scheduled for a 3PM start.