Franklin Pierce Drops Three at Gene Cusic Classic
Ravens fall to Hillsdale 5-0, edged by Bowdoin 3-1,
and clipped by New York Tech 11-3

FORT MYERS, FLA. (March 20, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce softball team suffered three setbacks this afternoon at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Florida. The Ravens opened the day with a 5-0 setback to Hillsdale College in game one, before being edged 3-1 by Bowdoin College and clipped by New York Tech 11-3 in games two and three respectively.

 Hillsdale 5, Franklin Pierce 0

            Hillsdale College jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after three innings and never looked back to claim its sixth victory of the season.

Freshman Kristen Tracy (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Walter Panas) led the Franklin Pierce offensive attack, hitting 2-3 with a double. Senior captain Michelle McConnell (Elora, Ontario/Centre Wellington) and freshman Kylie Molinari (Meriden, Conn./Maloney) rounded out the Raven offensive attack, chipping in with one single apiece.

Freshman pitcher Ashley Stewart (Westmoreland, N.H./Monadnock) suffered the loss for Franklin Pierce (0-2). The rookie hurler tossed six innings, yielding five earned runs on five hits and two walks.

Bowdoin 3, Franklin Pierce 1

Bowdoin College connected for three runs in the first inning and silence the Franklin Pierce bats to earn a 3-1 victory in game two.

Franklin Pierce sophomores Jackie Prybella (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) and Elaine Matthews (Roslindale, Mass./Archbishop Williams) recorded the only Raven hits, as each player singled during the third inning. Freshman Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) suffered the loss for the Ravens (2-2) in the complete game effort. The sophomore slinger tossed seven innings, yielding three earned runs on four hits and five walks, while striking out eight. 

New York Tech 11, Franklin Pierce 3

New York Institute of Technology recorded 11 runs over the final three innings to defeat Franklin Pierce 11-3 in game three.

Sophomore Jackie Prybella led the Franklin Pierce charge with a 1-3 performance, one homerun and one RBI. Senior captain Michelle McConnell was also solid, collecting a double and two RBI, while sophomore Stephanie Howard (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) and freshman Kristen Tracy chipped in with one hit apiece.

Franklin Pierce junior Becky Aalto (Hubbardston, Mass./Gardner) suffered her second consecutive loss for the Ravens (0-2). Aalto pitched five innings, allowing 11 runs (five earned) on ten hits, while walking none and striking out none.        

            Franklin Pierce (2-6, 0-0 NE-10) will be in action again tomorrow as it faces Albright College at 9 a.m. and SUNY-Fredonia at 1 p.m. Hillsdale College (6-5, 0-0 GLIAC) will take part in the Wayne State Invitational this weekend. Bowdoin College (9-0, 0-0 NESCAC) will face the University of Chicago tomorrow at 3 p.m. New York Institute of Technology (3-2, 0-0 ECC) will be in action against Florida Gulf Coast University tomorrow at 5 p.m.