MANCHESTER, N.H.—The Southern New Hampshire University softball team split a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with American International College on Friday afternoon, winning game one 6-3 before falling 1-0 in the nightcap. With the split, the Penmen set their record at 17-21 overall and 15-9 in NE-10 play, while the Yellow Jackets sit at 16-20 overall and 12-10 in league play.
The Penmen took an early lead in the opener by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning as Kate Stanley (Kingston, Mass.) and Elena Anderson (Salem, Wisc.) reached on walks. Stanley scored on a double by Kelsea Cheney (Abington, Mass.) while Anderson was batted on a sacrifice fly by Cara Daly (Plainville, Mass.). Cheney would score on a single by Melissa Vitagliano (Bedford, N.H.) to round out scoring in the first inning.
Stanley connected for a solo homerun in the third inning to give the Penmen the 4-0 advantage. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Yellow Jackets would string together three hits, a walk and a fielders' choice to tally two runs.
SNHU would tack on two more runs in the fifth and allow American International to score once in the seventh to finalize the 6-3 win.
Dolores Mattice (Schenectady, N.Y.) earned the win in the circle for the Penmen, scattering ten hits, three earned runs and two walks over seven innings while striking out seven. Cheney led the Penmen at the plate with three hits in three at-bats and two runs batted in.
Yellow Jackets pitcher Brittany Grimes held the Penmen to just four hits in the nightcap to post her first shutout of the season. Amanda Barton (Franklin, N.H.), Anderson, Daly, and Cristy Jenkins (Hudson, Mass.) all connected for hits in game two.
American International's lone run of the game came in the first inning as Sarah Calgreen walked, advanced to second on a throwing error, and scored on a single by Stephanie Belanger.
Kelsey Griffin (Scarborough, Maine) took the loss in the circle for the Penmen, sacrificing just two hits, one earned run, and two walks over seven innings of work. She also struck out six on the afternoon.
Southern New Hampshire returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 action at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.
