Franklin Pierce Comes Up Just Short in Tucson
Ravens fall to Nazareth, 6-4, then suffer seventh-inning collapse in 8-7 loss to Babson

TUCSON, Ariz. (March 17, 2008) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team continued to find bad luck on Monday night at the Tucson Invitational Games, as the Ravens dropped a pair of tough games at Lincoln Park. Franklin Pierce lost its first game of the day to Nazareth College, 6-4, then fell in heartbreaking fashion to Babson College, 8-7, to complete the day.

Nazareth 6, Franklin Pierce 4

Franklin Pierce dropped its first game of the day against Nazareth, as the Ravens gave up four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning that broke a 2-2 deadlock and gave the Golden Flyers their first win of the year.

Senior captain Kate Surgen (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire Regional) and junior Jackie Prybella (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) paced the Ravens offensively with a pair of hits each. Junior Elaine Matthews (Roslindale, Mass./Archbishop Williams) also had an RBI single for Franklin Pierce, while sophomore Kristen Tracy (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Walter Panas) added a sacrifice fly.

Senior Becky Aalto (Hubbardston, Mass./Gardner) began the game in the circle for Franklin Pierce, pitching into the fifth inning. She was charged with four funs (three earned) on nine hits, while walking one and striking out five. Aalto (0-1) took the loss after putting the first two runners on in the fifth inning, which later scored after she was lifted for junior Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg). Jacobs struck out three in one inning of work, but allowed a pair of hits and walked one.

BOXSCORE AND PLAY-BY-PLAY

Babson 8, Franklin Pierce 7 

Franklin Pierce seemed to have its first win of 2008 locked up in the nightcap against Babson, but the Beavers scored eight runs with two outs in the seventh inning to shock the Ravens and steal away an 8-7 win.

Junior Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) was in firm control for most of the night, as the ace took a no-hitter into the final inning of play, striking out four along the way. She then retired two of the first three batters of the seventh before things fell apart, as Franklin Pierce committed four errors leading to eight unearned runs. Jacobs gave up only two hits in the inning but also walked three. She was lifted in favor of freshman Kayla Johnson (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) with the bases loaded and the Ravens clinging to a 7-6 lead.

Johnson quickly worked the count to 0-2 on Michelle Bolduc (Darien, Conn./Darien), but Bolduc connected with the game-winning single later in the at-bat, scoring two runs to miraculously win the game for the Beavers.

Jacobs (0-2) gave up eight runs (all unearned) on only two hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out four but allowing eight walks. Johnson blew the save chance by allowing a hit to the only batter she faced on the evening.

The seventh-inning collapse overshadowed a very productive day from Matthews, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, adding two RBI and two runs scored for Franklin Pierce. Tracy and junior Stephanie Howard (Norwalk, Conn./ Norwalk) each had RBI doubles for the Ravens, with Howard also scoring a run.

BOXSCORE AND PLAY-BY-PLAY

Franklin Pierce (0-4, 0-0 NE-10) continues at the Tucson Invitational Games tomorrow with another doubleheader day, as the Ravens take on Manchester College (Ind.) at 11:15 a.m. and Doane College (Neb.) at 1:15 p.m. local time. Nazareth (1-2) takes on Wisconsin-Eau Claire later tonight, while Babson (4-3) has the day off tomorrow before taking on California Lutheran University and Morningside College on Wednesday.