LYNDHURST, N.J. – Felician University used strong complete-game pitching efforts from right-handers Ashley Owens (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint) and Erin Powers (Aberdeen, N.J./Matawan Regional) and a combined 20-10 hit advantage to earn victories over visiting Goldey-Beacom College in both games of the teams' Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference softball doubleheader, 3-2 and 4-2, on Saturday afternoon at Matera Field.

The games represented Felician's 2016 home openers and the conference lid-lifters for both schools.

Freshman shortstop Zeaenna Brackett (Woodbury, N.J./Woodbury) was 5 for 7 plus a walk on the day and had a triple in each game for the Golden Falcons (8-10, 2-0 CACC).

In Game 1, Owens (2-5) carried a three-hit shutout into the seventh inning. Her effort gave Felician time to build a 3-0 lead with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth frames. The Golden Falcons opened the scoring in the third when Brackett led off with a triple and came home on Jackie Dueñas' (Riverside, Calif./Arlington) groundout.

Felician freshman Steph Donah (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) pushed an RBI single through the left side in the fourth inning, but Lightning reliever Natalie Mickles (Dingman's Ferry, Pa./Delaware Valley) came on to escape further damage, causing the Golden Falcons to leave the bases loaded. The hosts plated another run in the fifth, however, on freshman Racquel Manzo's (Whittier, Calif./La Habra) run-scoring single.

Owens ran into trouble in the seventh. After loading the bases with one out on two singles and a Golden Falcon error, GBC received a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from junior Amber Wroble (Mechanicsville, Md./Chopticon). A walk re-filled the bases, and Kelsey Brandle's (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) single to left was only able to bring home one run. Owens then recorded a strikeout to end the game.

Owens allowed six hits and struck out a season-high six batters, walking just one. Brackett was 3 for 3 and Donah and Alicia DeFlaviis (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) had two hits each for the Golden Falcons. Brandle finished 2 for 4 for the Lightning (2-4, 0-2).

Powers (3-4) and GBC hurler Alyssa Giampolo (East Windsor, N.J./Notre Dame) were locked in a scoreless duel in the nightcap until the Golden Falcons broke through for three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Following a sacrifice fly by Amanda Lopez (Riverbank, Calif./Riverbank), Manzo and sophomore Jeannette Roldan (Hesperia, Calif./Oak Hills) blasted consecutive RBI triples.

After the teams traded runs in the sixth inning, the Lightning again rallied in the seventh. GBC garnered back-to-back singles with one out. Powers caught a pop-up, but a walk loaded the bases. A Golden Falcon error brought home a run and extended the game before Powers induced another pop-up to complete a four-hitter. She struck out four and walked four.

Brackett, Manzo and Roldan had two hits each for the Golden Falcons.