MANCHESTER, N.H. –Southern New Hampshire University and Assumption College split a Northeast-10 Conference softball doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Penmen Field. The Penmen rallied from a 7-0 deficit to post a 14-7 win in game one, while the Greyhounds prevailed 2-0 in a pitchers' duel in the nightcap. SNHU is now 12-18 overall and 10-6 in the NE-10, while the Greyhounds remain atop the league standings at 16-11 and 10-4 in the league.
In the opener, Kate Stanley (Kingston, Mass.) belted two home runs as the Penmen rallied from a 7-0 deficit after two innings with 14 unanswered runs. Her first, a three-run shot, came as part of a nine-run third, while she delivered another three-run homer in the sixth to cap the scoring for the Penmen.
Stanley finished 4-4 with four runs scored and six RBI, while Amanda Barton (Franklin, N.H.) and Kelsea Cheney (Abington, Mass.) (pictured) each had two hits. Cheney also drove in three runs.
Assumption took a 4-0 lead in the first on back-to-back home runs. Nicole Boris belted a three-run homer to right-center, while Amy Gordon delivered a solo shot to left. In the second, the Greyhounds again homered back-to-back, with a two-run shot by Melissa Jalbert preceding a solo round-tripper by Lauren Medeiros.
In the third, six of SNHU's nine runs came with two outs. The Penmen collected five hits and took advantage of two Assumption errors and a hit by pitch. Cheney got Southern New Hampshire on the board with a double that plated Stanley. Morgan Farmer (Kingston, N.H.) and Cara Daly (Plainville, Mass.) reached on back-to-back defensive miscues that made it 7-6. Back-to-back singles by Brittany Young (Merrimack, N.H.) and Barton made it 7-6 before Stanley's first home run in her second at-bat of the frame made it 9-7.
The hosts tacked on two runs in the fifth on a Cheney single that brought in Barton and Stanley. Stanley's home run in the sixth with two away brought in Young, who had worked a two-out walk, and Barton, who was hit by a pitch.
Dolores Mattice (Schenectady, N.Y.) allowed four hits and three runs in 6.1 innings of relief to earn the victory for the Penmen, fanning seven. She came in for Katie Raymond (Monson, Mass.), who faced just five batters before being replaced. Chelsea Durso took the loss for Assumption, surrendering 10 hits and nine runs (one earned) in 3.1 innings of work as the starter.
In the nightcap, Assumption broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the seventh. A single by Medeiros brought in Tanya Robidoux, while an error on the play brought in Jalbert from second. The Greyhounds took advantage of two Penmen errors in the frame.
Jennifer Lowrey earned the win for Assumption, allowing just three hits in her complete-game shut out and fanning 11 without a walk. Kelsey Griffin (Scarborough, Maine) took the loss, allowing six hits and two runs (one earned) and fanning seven, but walking five.
Southern New Hampshire returns to action Saturday when it travels to Adelphi University.
