Recap by student-staff writer Colin Struckman

VIERA, Fla. – The Franklin Pierce University Ravens softball team had a tough outing on Friday afternoon, getting swept in a doubleheader against Ferris State and D'Youville 5-2 in non-conference play. The twin bill marks the stretch of 10 games in Viera at the USSSA Space Coast Spring Games.

Score: Game 1: Ferris State 5, Franklin Pierce 2 Game 2: D'Youville 5, Franklin Pierce 2
Records: Franklin Pierce (5-4, 0-0 NE-10), Ferris State (11-5, 0-0 GLIAC), D'Youville (6-4, 0-0 ECC)
Location: Viera, Florida
Date: Friday, March 14, 2025

Game 1:

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Bulldogs struck first in the top of the 1st inning. It started with Jadyn Joseph scoring on a passed ball, then Maddie Gkekas scored on a fielder's choice to take the 2-0 lead.
• The Ravens responded in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Senior third baseman Lita Vorseth (Mesa, Ariz.) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score sophomore pitcher Georgia Clough (Barriere, British Columbia) and cut the deficit to 2-1.
• The Bulldogs punched back in the top of the 3rd. Jasyl Withers stole second base and Maddie Gkekas scored to put them up 3-1.
• The Ravens fought back however. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, sophomore second baseman Charlit Hartenstein (Massapequa, N.Y.) ripped a single to left field to score junior center fielder Andie Anderson (Phoenix, Ariz.) and make it 3-2 Bulldogs.
• The Bulldogs padded their lead in the top of the 4th inning. Alexis Kozlowski hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Breanna Blair from third base and put them up 4-2.
• Bailey McCalister singled to center field for the Bulldogs in the top of the 5th to score Riley Kish and give them the 5-2 lead, a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• The Bulldogs outhit the Ravens 7-5.
• Georgia Clough started in the circle for the Ravens. She pitched 3 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 earned runs, walking 4 batters, and striking out 5.
• Sophomore pitcher Kennedy Morris (Stafford, Conn.) came in relief and pitched 2 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 earned run, and striking out a batter.Junior pitcher Brooke Koehler (Surprise, Ariz.) also pitched in relief. She pitched 2 innings, allowing no hits and no runs, and striking out 2 batters. 

Game 2:

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Saints started the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Becca Sawyer reached first on an error by senior short stop Haley Bigwood (Athol, Mass.) to score Gabby Moreno and Annie Jorgenson and take an early 2-0 lead.
• It took until the 5th inning for the Ravens bats to heat up and claw back in the game. Senior first baseman Anna Erikson (Temecula, Calif.) roped a triple to left field to score sophomore right fielder Raylee Gilbert (Waterville, Maine) to make it 2-1 Saints. Then, Andie Anderson smacked a single to left field to score Anna Erikson and tie the game 2-2.
• The lead didn't last long, however. The Saints regained their lead in the bottom of the 5th as Annie Jorgenson singled and advanced to second on an error by Lita Vorseth, then Emily Pryzbysz and Ally Beardi each scored to take the 4-2 lead. Summer Clark then scored on a passed ball to give them the 5-2 lead.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• The Saints outhit the Ravens 7-5.
• The Ravens committed 2 errors compared to none from the Saints.
• Kennedy Morris started in the circle and pitched 4 and a thirds innings, allowing 7 hits, 5 runs and 3 earned runs, walking 2 batters, and striking out 1.
• Georgia Clough came in relief and pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing no hits and no runs.
• Raylee Gilbert also pitched out of the bullpen for an inning, striking out a batter and allowing no hits or runs.

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS:The Ravens are back in action tomorrow (3/15) in Viera with another doubleheader. Game 1 is at 10 a.m. against Post and Game 2 is at 2:30 p.m. against the University of Minnesota-Crookston.