Franklin
Pierce Drops FORT
MYERS, Fla. (March 21, 2005) – The
Franklin Pierce softball team suffered a pair of losses today at the
Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Meyers, Fla. Albright College
picked up a come from behind 8-7 victory over the Ravens in the first
game and Palm Beach Atlantic earned a mercy rule 8-0 win over Franklin
Pierce in the nightcap.
In their first game of the day, the Ravens jumped out to a 6-0
advantage after four and half innings, but Albright recorded six runs in
the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth frame to take control
of the contest.
The freshman duo of Lindsay Knapp (Elmira, N.Y./Notre Dame)
and Jenna Giardina
(Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic), along with sophomores Colleen
Varone (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) and Kamla Taylor (Sugarland,
Texas/Kempner) led the offensive charge for the Ravens. Knapp
connected for her first career homerun, and Giardina went 2-for-4,
scored two runs and stole three bases. Varone hit 2-for-4 with a pair of
RBI, while Taylor went 2-for-4, swiped a pair of bases and scored a run. Freshman
Lauren
Every (Schwenksville, Pa./Perk Valley)
earned the victory on the mound for the Lions, allowing three earned
runs in six innings pitched before giving way to junior Ashley
Young (North Catasauqua, Pa./Catasauqua),
who struck out the side in the seventh inning to get the save. Knapp
surrendered no earned runs but came away as the hard luck loser for the
Ravens. She allowed just five hits and struck out four batters in a
complete game performance.
Batteries: WP – Every
In the nightcap, the game went scoreless through two innings before Palm Beach Atlantic broke through for a run in the third frame and followed with seven more in the fourth inning to clinch a mercy rule victory.
Sophomore
Nikki Staten (Ohio City, Ohio) and senior Jen Kleier
(Orlando, Fla.) provided the power for the Sailfish. Staten was
2-for-2 at the plate, while Kleier went 2-for-3 with three RBI. The duo
each blasted homeruns to highlight the seven-run fourth inning. Varone
continued to sizzle, as she went 2-for-3 at the plate. Knapp was a
perfect 2-for-2, while sophomore Michelle McConnell (Elora,
Ontario/Centre Wellington) and senior Jessica Heaney
(Greenport, N.Y./Greenport) added singles for the Ravens. Senior
Kim Boardman (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) tossed a complete game
shutout and earned the victory on the mound for Palm Beach Atlantic,
while senior Christine Boutiette (Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland)
took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs. Batteries:
Franklin Pierce (1-5) and Palm Beach Atlantic will face off again tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The Ravens will then take on Rio Grande University at 6 p.m. |
