Franklin Pierce Splits a Pair at Tucson Games
Ravens earn first victory of the year over Manchester, 8-0, then drop 9-5 game to Doane

TUCSON, Ariz. (March 18, 2008) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team earned a two-game split on its third day of the Tucson Invitational Games on Tuesday morning at Lincoln Park. The Ravens won their first game of the season in the day’s first matchup, an 8-0 victory over Manchester (Ind.) College, before dropping a 9-5 decision to Doane (Neb.) College in their second game of the day.

Junior Stephanie Howard (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) had a career day to pace the Raven attack on Tuesday, going a combined 4-for-6 with a home run, two doubles and seven runs batted in. Senior captain Kate Surgen (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire Regional) also had a good day for the Ravens, getting four hits in eight at-bats with a pair of RBI.

Junior Elaine Matthews went 3-for-4 with a double to help the Ravens to an 8-0 win over Manchester.

Franklin Pierce 8, Manchester 0 (six innings)

Franklin Pierce caught its elusive first victory of the season against Manchester, as the Ravens pounded out 12 hits on their way to a six-inning mercy-rule victory, 8-0.

Howard was the offensive star for Franklin Pierce against the Spartans, going 2-for-2 with a home run, a double and five runs batted in. The junior provided all the offense that freshman hurler Kayla Johnson (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) would need in her first two at-bats, as she doubled home a pair of runs in the second inning before smacking a three-run homer in the third. Her five RBI also tie a program record for a single game, last achieved by Lori Oleskewicz against UMass Lowell on April 26, 1996.

Surgen also went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while junior Elaine Matthews (Roslindale, Mass./ Archbishop Williams) went 3-for-4 with a double, recording three hits for the second consecutive game.

Johnson shut down the Manchester offense in her six innings of work, ceding only two hits while striking out four in a complete-game effort. Johnson (1-1) earned her first collegiate victory and first career shutout against the Spartans.

BOXSCORE AND PLAY-BY-PLAY

Doane 9, Franklin Pierce 5

The Ravens jumped out to a 4-0 lead after half an inning against Doane in their second game of the day, but the Tigers picked up two in the second and six in the fourth to take a 9-5 win.

Howard and Surgen again played a role in the Raven offense, as Surgen drove in one and Howard drove in two in the first inning. Howard ended the day 2-for-4 with a two-run double, while Surgen also had two hits in four at-bats with one run batted in.

Junior righthander Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) made the start for Franklin Pierce, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits in four innings of work. Jacobs (0-3) also struck out two and walked three during her outing before ceding the circle to freshman Caitlin Beagan (Warwick, R.I./Pilgrim), who gave up one run while striking out two over the final two innings.

BOXSCORE AND PLAY-BY-PLAY

Franklin Pierce (1-5, 0-0 NE-10) takes a day off tomorrow before returning to action in Tucson on Thursday, when the team faces battles Hastings College at 8:30 a.m. and Midland Lutheran College at 12:30 p.m. local time. Manchester (2-3) takes on Eastern Connecticut State University and UMass Boston tomorrow, while Doane (6-3) takes the field next on March 27 for a doubleheader against Nebraska Wesleyan University.