GAME 1 BOX SCORE     GAME 2 BOX SCORE

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Southern New Hampshire University and UMass Lowell split a Northeast-10 softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon, with the River Hawks posting a 7-5 win in the opener before the Penmen earned a 6-0 win in game two.  SNHU is now 13-19 overall and 11-7 in the NE-10, while the River Hawks are now 5-24-1 and 4-11-1 in the league.

The Penmen would get all six of their runs in the bottom of the fifth in the nightcap.  Melissa Vitagliano (Bedford, NH) worked a leadoff walk, then was lifted for pinch runner Rachel Dobinski (Hopkinton, MA).  Valerie Martins (Somerset, MA) then singled, and after the pair was moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Michelle Maranto (Hampstead, NH), Nicole Arpin (Cheshire, CT) belted the first pitch for a home run to make it 3-0.

The next two batters, Karissa Bettencourt (Norton, MA) and Ashley Bernstein (Stoughton, MA) both singled, then after an out, Bettencourt would score on a double to center by Andrea Clausi (Kingston, NY).  Bernstein and Clausi would both cross the plate on a single to left-center by Melissa Pessotti (Burlington, MA).

Arpin finished with two of SNHU's eight hits in game two as the Penmen outhit the River Hawks 8-4.  Freshman Kyla Puccini (North Dighton, MA) earned the win for SNHU, scattering four hits while fanning seven with just one walk. 

UMass Lowell jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one, but Southern New Hampshire would score four of its runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead.  Arpin worked a leadoff walk and would score on a Bettencourt double.  Bettencourt would come around on a passed ball and a wild pitch, then Bernstein would make it 3-0 with a solo home run.  Elena Anderson (Salem, WI) singled after Bernstein and eventually scored on another passed ball.

The River Hawks would tie the game in the fourth on a two-run home run by Lindsi Panarelli, then scored three times in the fifth, with Hilary Hopkins delivering a two-run single and Panarelli an RBI single.  SNHU would get one back in the bottom of the seventh when Maranto reached on a one-out double and eventually scored when Anderson reached on an error.  The Penmen left two runners stranded in the bottom of the seventh.

Maranto, Bettencourt and Bernstein each had two hits in the opener for Southern New Hampshire, while Panarelli led the River Hawks' 10-hit attack with three hits.  Bernstein worked the first five innings on the mound and took the loss.

Southern New Hampshire returns to action Thursday afternoon when it travels to Stonehill College for a 3:00 doubleheader.