BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (3/24/26) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at Bridgeport on Tuesday afternoon, earning a 13-3 win in game one before falling 6-5 in game two, which was called after five innings due to darkness.
Game 1 – Franklin Pierce 13, Bridgeport 3 (5 inn.)
The Ravens' offense exploded early and often in the opener, scoring four runs in the first inning and never looking back. Franklin Pierce finished with 13 runs on 13 hits, including four home runs in the game.
Zoey Galindo (Lakewood, Calif.) started the scoring with an RBI triple in the first inning, followed by RBI hits from
Delaney Duford (Concord, N.H.),
Alicia Ott (Stockton, Calif.), and
Danica Nielsen (Oceanside, Calif.) to give the Ravens a 4-0 lead after the opening frame. Franklin Pierce added runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, highlighted by home runs from
Maisie Lerette (New Gloucester, Maine),
Charlit Hartenstein (Massapequa, N.Y.), Duford, and
Andie Anderson (Phoenix, Ariz.).
Anderson led the offense with two hits and two RBI, while Duford added two hits and two RBI. Nielsen also drove in two runs, and Ott recorded two doubles in the game.
Georgia Clough (Barriere, British Columbia) earned the win in the circle, pitching four innings with five strikeouts before
Kennedy Morris (Stafford, Conn.) closed out the game in relief.
Game 2 – Bridgeport 6, Franklin Pierce 5 (5 inn.)
Franklin Pierce jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning behind RBI from Nielsen and
Camryn Van Valkenburgh (San Dimas, Calif.), but Bridgeport responded with a five-run inning to take control of the game.
The Ravens battled back in the fifth inning, scoring three runs to tie the game at 5-5. Lerette doubled in a run, Anderson added an RBI triple, and Van Valkenburgh followed with an RBI single to even the score. However, Bridgeport answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning to secure the 6-5 win.
UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: Franklin Pierce returns to action later this week with Northeast 10 conference play continuing this weekend. They will travel to AIC for doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday.