GAME 1 BOX SCORE     GAME 2 BOX SCORE

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The Southern New Hampshire University softball team opened its 2010 season by splitting a doubleheader with New York Institute of Technology Saturday.  The Bears posted a 4-1 win in the opener before the Penmen posted a 3-2 win in 11 innings in the nightcap.  NYIT is now 4-7 on the season.

In the second game, Melissa Pessotti (Burlington, Mass.) reached on a one-out single up the middle.  After moving over on a groundout by Kate Stanley (Kingston, Mass.), Melissa Vitagliano (Bedford, N.H.) delivered the game-winning hit with her single down the left field line to plate Pessotti.

Stanley homered to lead off the second inning to give the Penmen a 1-0 lead.  The Bears tied the game in the fourth when Brooklynn Fields led off the frame with a solo homer.  SNHU reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth when Kelsea Cheney (Abington, Mass.) led off the inning with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Stanley.  NYIT tied the game once again in the bottom of the sixth when a single by Bridgette Kirschmer plated Fields.

Pessotti and Vitagliano each had a pair of hits to pace the Penmen.  Amanda Barton (Franklin, N.H.) worked six innings of relief for the Penmen, fanning nine and scattering five hits to earn the win.  SNHU starter Jen Garloff (Lebanon, Pa.) went five innings and allowed four hits and one run while fanning five.

In the opener, NYIT would break open a scoreless game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the fifth.  SNHU's only run came in the seventh when Pessotti reached on a one-out single and scored on a single to right by Stanley.

Stanley had two of the three Penmen hits in the opener.  Kelsey Griffin (Scarborough, Maine) took the loss for Southern New Hampshire, surrendering 11 hits while striking out four.

Southern New Hampshire returns to action Sunday when it faces Dowling in a noon doubleheader.