MANCHESTER, N.H.—The Southern New Hampshire University softball team won the second half of Sunday afternoon's Northeast-10 doubleheader against the College of Saint Rose Golden Knights 9-0 in fiving innings after dropping the opener 4-2. The Penmen now sit at 9-17 overall and 7-5 in the NE-10 Conference, while the Golden Knights are 7-16 overall and 3-9 in NE-10 play.
Saint Rose scored in their first at-bat of the day, as the number two batter, Kayla Kuilema, was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a single by Olivia Reeves. Kuilema would then score on a single by Jessica Butterbrodt.
The Penmen would answer in the bottom of the inning, as designated hitter Brittany Young (Merrimack, N.H.) reached on a fielder's choice, advanced on back-to-back singles by Elena Anderson (Salem, Wisc.) and Kelsea Cheney (Abington, Mass.) and scored on another single by Melissa Vitagliano (Bedford, Mass.).
The Penmen would take the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning, as third baseman Morgan Farmer (Kingston, N.H.) reached on a fielder's choice, advanced on an error by the Saint Rose shortstop, and scored from second base on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Barton (Franklin, N.H.). The Penmen would carry the 2-1 lead until the top of the sixth inning when Reeves hit a solo homerun to centerfield, tying the game a 2-2.
In the top of the seventh with Steph Luce on base after a walk, Reeves would hit her second homerun of the day, giving the Golden Knights the 4-2 lead. Christy Jenkins (Hudson, Mass.) would start off the bottom of the seventh with a single for the Penmen, but three-straight outs would end the game with the victory going to the Golden Knights.
Kelsey Griffin (Scarborough, Maine) took the loss on the mound in the complete game effort. She scattered seven hits, struck out eight, and walked three on the afternoon.
In the nightcap, the Penmen tacked on two runs in the bottom of the first inning and added seven more in the third inning to enact the NCAA mercy rule, limiting the game to five innings. The Penmen combined for ten hits in game two, with Tesia Stanasek (Blackstone, Mass.), Anderson, and Vitagliano connecting for two apiece.
Dolores Mattice (Schenectady, N.Y.) earned the win in the circle, giving up just three hits in five innings of work. She added eight strikeouts and walked three. Saint Rose stranded eight runners in the nightcap.
Mikayla Wells took the loss for Saint Rose sacrificing six runs and six hits in 2.1 innings of work. Reeves, Butterbrodt and Nicole Traylor connected for hits in the second game.
Southern New Hampshire returns to action on Tuesday, traveling to face cross-town rival Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 doubleheader action. The first game of the day is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.
