Bryant Sweeps Franklin Pierce
Ravens fall 8-0 in game one; suffer 10-2 defeat in game two

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (April 7, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce softball team suffered a pair of losses to Bryant University in Northeast-10 Conference action this afternoon at the Bryant Softball Complex. The Ravens suffered an 8-0 loss in game one before falling
10-2 in the nightcap.

Bryant 8, Franklin Pierce 0

Senior Amanda Wilbur (Lakeville, Mass./Apponequet) led the Bryant offense in game one, hitting a perfect 4-4 with two doubles, a homerun (3), two runs scored and five RBI. Classmate Amanda Gagne (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) was also solid with a 3-4 performance, including a double, and two runs scored, while freshman Ashley Coon (Fairless Hills, Pa./Conwell Egan Catholic) went 2-3, with a homer (1), one run scored and one RBI.

Sophomore Jackie Prybella (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) led the Franklin Pierce attack, going 2-3 with two singles. Senior captain Michelle McConnell (Elora, Ontario/Centre Wellington) chipped in one hit to round out the Ravens offensive attack.

Bryant opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Wilbur drove in junior Jessica Valentini (Cliffside Park, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) with an RBI single. The Bulldogs added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning on a RBI double by Wilbur and a sacrifice fly by sophomore Kate Thomas (Bedford, N.H./Trinity).

In the sixth inning, Bryant plated four runs to secure its tenth victory of the season. Coon ignited the rally with her first collegiate homerun, while Wilbur capped the scoring surge with three-run homer.

Sophomore Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) suffered the loss for Franklin Pierce (4-6). The veteran hurler tossed 5.2 innings, yielding eight runs on 12 hits, while striking out seven and walking only two. Senior Nikki Ingalls (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) picked up the win for Bryant, tossing a complete game three hitter (5-2).

GAME STATISTICS AND BOXSCORE

 Bryant 10, Franklin Pierce 2

Freshman Alison Chouinard (Swansea, Mass./Joseph Case) led Bryant in game two, hitting a perfect 4-4 with a double, one run scored, and two RBI. Kate Thomas was also solid with a 2-4 performance, including a double, two runs scored and two RBI, while Lindsay Gagne went 2-4 with a triple and four RBI.

Senior Michelle McConnell led the Franklin Pierce offense in game two, hitting
1-2 with two RBI, while sophomores Elaine Matthews (Roslindale, Mass./Archbishop Williams) and Jackie Prybella added one hit and one run scored. Freshman Kylie Molinari (Meriden, Conn./Maloney) and sophomore Jen Ryan (Winthrop, Mass./Winthrop) chipped in with one hit apiece.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on a McConnell sacrifice fly, but Bryant responded with a four run rally in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-1 lead. Thomas led the Bulldog scoring surge with a RBI double to drive in two, while Coon and Chouinard also connected for RBI doubles.

Bryant added another run in the bottom in the bottom of the second inning to take a 5-1 lead. Franklin Pierce fired back with a single run in the top of the fifth on a RBI single by McConnell, but the Bulldogs countered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a commanding 9-2 lead. Gagne led the Bulldogs charge with an RBI triple to drive in three runs, while senior Lindsay Connor (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) belted a RBI single.

Junior Becky Aalto (Hubbardston, Mass./Gardner) suffered the loss for Franklin Pierce (0-6). The veteran slinger tossed 5.1 innings, yielding ten runs on 16 hits, while striking out two. Sophomore Anne Dobmeier (Buffalo, N.Y./Holy Angels) collected the win for Bryant. She allowed two runs, on five hits while striking out two and walking three.

Franklin Pierce (4-14, 1-7 NE-10) will be in action again on Monday as it travels to Southern New Hampshire University at 3 p.m. Bryant (11-6, 7-1 NE-10) will host American International on Monday at 3 p.m.

GAME STATISTICS AND BOX SCORE