Worcester, Mass. (April 11) -- The Assumption College softball team split with the Franklin Pierce Ravens at the WPI Softball Field on Saturday, dropping the first game by a narrow score of 3-2 in eight innings before coming back to take the second 9-5. The Hounds were led by sophomore Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H. / Bedford) and senior Jess DiPilato (Worcester, Mass. / Holy Name), who went a combined 8-for-15 at the plate tallying seven runs, three doubles, two home runs and five RBI. 

With the split, the Hounds move to 12-9 on the season, 4-5 in the NE-10, while Franklin Pierce improves to 2-5 overall, 2-4 in the league.

Game One: Franklin Pierce 3, Assumption 2

Sophomore Courtney Oliva (Vernon, Conn. / Rockville) started the game for the Hounds, but was relieved after just one inning by freshman Kendal Roy (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton). Oliva gave up four hits and two runs in the first while Roy finished off the last seven for three hits, one run and four strikeouts. Roy takes the loss for the Hounds and entered game two 4-5 on the season.

The Ravens got out to a quick lead in the top of the first. With two outs, Oliva gave up three-straight singles, the last of which was a two-RBI shot through the left side that put Franklin Pierce on top 2-0. A lead the Ravens would maintain until the bottom of the seventh. 

Roy entered the game in the top of the second and shut down three-straight batters for a momentum shift in favor of the Hounds. 

In the bottom of the second, DiPilato led off, belting a two-strike homer over the center field fence for Assumption's first run of the game. Freshman Stephanie Menard (Cranston, R.I. / Cranston HS West) followed with a single to center before senior Andrea Crowley (Norfolk, Mass. / Ursuline Academy) grounded into a double play to end the inning, 2-1.

In the top of the fourth the Hounds continued their defensive prowess, retiring three-straight, including an impressive snag in left field by junior Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass. / Fairhaven) before Roy struck out the third batter of the inning, her second of the night.

The Ravens threatened in the top of the fifth when two-straight singles and a walk loaded the bases with two outs, but Roy struck out Pierce's clean-up batter Erin Wood to work out of the jam.

In the bottom of the seventh, Abad led off with a solo homer over the right field fence to tie it up at 2-2 before the Ravens retired three straight to send the squads into extra innings. 

In the top of the eighth, the Ravens regained the lead with a solo homer over the left fence from Erin Wood, 3-2

The Hounds battled in the bottom of the eighth, sophomore Cassidy Colby (Charlton, Mass. / Shepherd Hill) led off with a hard rip up the middle, followed by an out and a walk, putting two on base with one out. A Greyhound strikeout and a foul fly to the Raven catcher ended the game after eight. 

Both squads tallied seven hits in the closely-matched contest. The Hounds were led by Abad and DiPilato at the plate. Abad went 4-for-7 while scoring four runs, driving in three RBI and hitting a double and a home run. DiPilato three runs, two RBI, a home run and two doubles for a 4-for-8 showing at the plate.

Three of the four runs in game one were scored on solo home runs, including Abad and DiPilato's, as well as the Ravens' Erin Wood's.

Game Two: Assumption 9, Franklin Pierce 5

Junior Jess Underwood (Hudson, N.H. / Alvirne) opened game two in the circle for the Hounds, pitching three solid innings before allowing for four runs in the fourth and another in the fifth. Underwood totaled 4.1 innings in the circle for three strikeouts and just three hits. 

Roy relieved Underwood in the top of the fifth to complete the game. She also allowed three hits while posting one strikeout and allowing no runs to cross the plate. Roy earns the win for the Hounds and is now 5-5 on the season.

It was the Hounds who got on the board early in the bottom of the first inning on three straight, two-out doubles to make it 3-0.

Impagliazzo kicked it off with a single through the left side before DiPilato, Abad and Moniz blasted back-to-back-to-back doubles to center field to score Impagliazzo, DiPilato and Abad.

Assumption increased the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third when, with one out, DiPilato nailed the first pitch for a stand-up double to center. Abad followed with a single rip through the right side to drive DiPilato home. Abad advanced to second on a passed ball, took third when Moniz flew out to the Ravens' right fielder and scored on a Menard single to third, 5-0.

In the top of the fourth, the Ravens responded with a walk and a single to start the inning. With one out, Underwood walked Courtney Caputo to load the bases before Karissa Forzese fouled out to Crowley behind the plate.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Franklin Pierce's Samantha Bonvino smashed a grand slam over the center-field fence to cut the Greyhound lead to one, 5-4.

In the top of the fifth, Underwood walked lead-off batter Julie Gallagher and a sacrifice bunt moved her to second before Underwood was relieved by Roy. Roy's first batter bunted a single down the first base line to score Gallagher from third and tie it up 5-5 with just one out.

With two outs and two on, the Ravens threatened to take the lead when shortstop Courtney Caputo sent a ball deep to left, just foul of the third-base line, before striking out on the following pitch to end the inning.

Assumption reclaimed the lead with a four-run, fifth inning capped by a three-run homer off the bat of Crowley. DiPilato led off the inning with a single up the middle but was tagged out at second when Abad reached on a fielder's choice in favor of stopping the lead runner.

Moniz followed and reached on an error by the shortstop before Menard reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Moniz and Abad to load the bases. Moniz looked to be out on a tag at second, but was called safe. Following the failed tag, Moniz took advantage of a confused defense and stole third, while Abad snuck home for the 6-5 lead. Menard took second on the play and Crowley followed with the three-run homer, scoring Moniz and Menard for a more comfortable 9-5 advantage.

Roy allowed just one single in the top of the sixth before the Greyhound defense shut the Ravens down for good in the top of the seventh with two pop ups and a foul out to Crowley behind the plate.

The Hounds racked up 12 hits compared to just six for the Ravens in game two, driving in eight RBI and leaving six runners stranded on base. 

DiPilato and Abad each posted three hits in four at-bats, while Abad scored three times and drove in two RBI. DiPilato also added two runs scored and an RBI while Crowley led the team in RBI with three. 

Assumption completed seven errorless innings in the field defensively, while the Ravens committed two.

The Hounds and the Ravens face off again tomorrow, Sunday, April 12, at the WPI Softball Field for their second doubleheader of the weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m

Assumption is set to return to action in back-to-back doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, against Franklin Pierce. The Hounds will face the Ravens on Saturday at WPI, and look to host on Sunday at Marois Field.