GAME 1 BOX SCORE     GAME 2 BOX SCORE

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Southern New Hampshire University softball team split a doubleheader with Eckerd College at Turley Field Monday afternoon.  The host Tritons posted a 5-4 win in the opener before the Penmen used a four-run fifth inning to take a 4-3 win in the nightcap.  SNHU wraps up its Florida trip 3-4, while Eckerd is now 8-32 on the season.

In game two, all of Southern New Hampshire's runs in the fifth came with two out.  Laurie Boland (Worcester, MA) would get the rally started with a single and would score on a double by Karissa Bettencourt (Norton, MA).  Valerie Martins (Somerset, MA) would drive in Bettencourt with a single to tie the game at 2-2, then Ashley Bernstein (Stoughton, MA) would cap the rally with a two-run home run to left.

Bettencourt, Martins and Bernstein all had two hits apiece for Southern New Hampshire in the nightcap.  Bernstein also earned the victory on the mound, going the distance and scattering five hits while working around six walks to earn the victory.  Mackenzie Dawson took the loss for Eckerd, working five innings and surrendering seven hits.

In the opener, SNHU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when a double by Andrea Clausi (Kingston, NY) scored Bettencourt and Megan Renning (Enosburg Falls, VT).  The Tritons would score three times in the bottom of the second to take a 3-2 lead, but the Penmen took a 4-3 lead with two more runs in the top of the fourth.  Ashley Guertin (Manchester, NH) reached on a one-out single and scored on a double by Boland.  Boland would later score on a single by Bettencourt.  Eckerd reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth via a two out, two run single by Jessica Pridemore.

Bernstein took the loss for Southern New Hampshire, scattering six hits and allowing five runs (two earned).  Boland and Bettencourt each had two hits for the Penmen in the opener.

SNHU opens Northeast-10 play Saturday when it faces defending Northeast-10 regular season champion Le Moyne College.  The twinbill, slated for Saturday at noon, will take place at Bridgewater (MA) State College due to unplayable field conditions at SNHU.