Purple Knights Rally To Complete Non-Conference Softball Sweep Of Franklin Pierce

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from the visiting Franklin Pierce Ravens on Sunday afternoon in Seaside Park, holding on to win game one 4-3, and completing the sweep by scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the nightcap, 7-6.  UB is now 11-29 overall.  Franklin Pierce falls to 5-16 on the season.

In the opener with the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning, Bridgeport sophomore Ashley Hessler (Pawtucket, R.I.) blasted a two-run homer, her third log ball of the season, to give the Purple Knights a 4-2 lead which they would not relinquish.

Franklin Pierce would score one run in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 4-3, but senior Taylor Hendrickson (Binghamton, N.Y.) would put out the fire to earn her second save of the season and make a winner of sophomore Alyssa Bua (Cornwall, N.Y.), who picked up her fourth victory of 2015.

In game two, Bridgeport trailed 6-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Purple Knights came back to complete the sweep by scoring five runs to walk off with the victory when junior Paige Owens (Berlin, Conn.) was hit by a pitch with one out.

Owens and Ashley Hessler, each had two runs batted in game two, and senior Sydney Phillips (Sebastopol, Calif.) went 3-for-3 at the plate in the nightcap.

UB junior Kaila Crandall (Little Rock, Calif.) and sophomore Kerri Agrela (Smithfield, R.I.) each had two hits in the game two win.

Taylor Hendrickson, who notched save in game one, picked up the win in relief to raise her season record to 2-3.

Up next, the Bridgeport softball team returns to conference play on Wednesday afternoon when the Purple Knights travel to Dowling College.