Softball drops senior day series against FPU
Posted: Apr 30, 2022

Softball drops senior day series against FPU

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College softball team saw hits from each of its three graduating seniors in the final Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader of the 2022 season, as Franklin Pierce University won 11-3 and 6-4 to sweep the set on Saturday, April 30.

FAST FACTS:
Final Scores: Franklin Pierce 11, AIC 3 (F/6); Franklin Pierce 6, AIC 4
Records: The Ravens rise to 29-9 with a 17-9 NE10 mark; the Yellow Jackets end 2022 at 4-38 with a 2-22 conference showing
Location: Judy Groff Field, Springfield, Massachusetts

KEY STATS:
Franklin Pierce:
Game 1:
Ashley Cangiano: 4-for-4, one home run, seven RBI
Gina Hinckley: 2-for-3, two runs
Melissa Konopinski: 2-for-3, three runs
Sabrina Gonzalez: Win (14-2), 6.0 IP, three runs on five hits, four strikeouts

Game 2:
Ashley Cangiano: 3-for-4, one double, two runs
Lita Vorseth: 2-for 3
Allie Martinez: 1-for-2, one walk, two RBI
Abbey Primavera: Win (11-5), 5.0 IP, three runs (two earned) on seven hits, one strikeout

AIC:
Game 1:
Abigail Wells: 1-for-3, one triple, two RBI
Ariana Martel: 1-for-2, one run
Isabella Erti: Loss (2-17), 3.1 IP, five runs (four earned) on five hits, one strikeout

Game 2:
Abigail Wells: 2-for-3, one run, one RBI, one stolen base
Leah Twyman: 2-for-3, one RBI
Noelle Gramlich: 1-for-3, one run, one RBI
Alexis Jimenez: Loss (2-10), 5.0 IP, six runs (five earned) on 11 hits, one strikeout
Isabella Erti: 2.0 IP, no runs on one hit, two strikeouts

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • The Ravens capitalized on an error in the first, as Lita Vorseth reached on a miscue, stole second, and scored on a base hit by Ashley Cangiano. That lead ballooned to three runs in the third as Melissa Konopinski singled, followed by a walk by Vorseth. Cangiano drove in Konopinski with another knock to center field, and after a hit re-loaded the bases, Bella Williams walked to push Vorseth home.
  • AIC answered back in the bottom of the third. Ariana Martel drilled a single back through the middle, and Lilly Acampora followed by beating out a grounder to second. That set the table for Abigail Wells to rip a triple past the second baseman and right fielder, bringing Martel and Acampora home, and she scored on a sacrifice fly by Leah Twyman to tie the game 3-3.
  • The Ravens quickly regained the lead in the fourth, with a pair of walks setting up Gina Hinckley for an RBI single before Cangiano collected her third hit of the day, a home run to left that set the score to 7-3.
  • Cangiano drove in two more in the sixth as part of a four-run inning for the 11-3 final.
  • Konopinski opened the second game with a bang, tripling to right and then scoring on a sacrifice fly by Vorseth. AIC responded in the home half with a Wells walk, and after the speedy center fielder swiped second, Twyman singled to bring her home.
  • The Ravens retook the lead in the second as Williams hit the first of three consecutive singles, and was ultimately sacrificed in. That lead expanded to 3-1 in the third with a single and error putting Cangiano at third to be driven in by Allie Martinez with a hit.
  • In the fifth, Vorseth and Hinckley each hit sharp shots to the left side of the infield and reached safely to set up Cangiano, who doubled home Vorseth. Martinez hit a long fly ball that scored Hinckley, and Williams put a perfect bunt down to get Cangiano in, giving the Ravens a 6-1 lead.
  • Down to their last outs in the seventh, Macy Ring hit a one-out single and Brianna Harzula followed with a gap-shot double in left center. Noelle Gramlich bounced a ball up the third base line that caused an errant throw, bringing in the duo that was on base. Wells then singled to score Gramlich and bring the tying run to the dish, but AIC could get no closer in the 6-4 game.


THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST AND THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST:

  • AIC celebrated Martel, Gramlich, and Victoria Andrade before the game, as the trio graduate this spring.
  • Martel's hit in the first game was her first collegiate hit.
  • Gramlich had the final run of the 2022 campaign.


WELLS STREAKS INTO NEXT SEASON:

  • Wells combined for three hits in six at-bats over the day's two games.
  • She ends the 2022 season on a six-game hitting streak, totaling 11 hits in 18 at-bats, and had two hits or more in four of those six games.
  • The sophomore centerfielder went 24-of-67 with seven walks in the month of April, good for a .358 batting average and .419 on-base percentage.