NEW HAVEN, Conn.—The Southern New Hampshire University softball team posted a split with Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference play, winning game one 8-4 in eight innings before dropping the nightcap 4-0. With the split, the Penmen set their record to 19-23 overall and 17-11 in NE-10 play and clinch a berth to the 2011 Northeast-10 Conference tournament. The Owls improve to 26-17 with the split and 19-19 in league play. SCSU has also clinched a spot in the tournament.
Morgan Farmer (Kingston, N.H.) connected for a grand slam in the eighth inning to put the Penmen up 8-4. SNHU had loaded the bases on three-singles by Kelsea Cheney (Abington, Mass.), Cara Daly (Plainville, Mass.) and Cristy Jenkins (Hudson, Mass.). The grand slam, which cleared the right field fence, marked the first collegiate homerun for Farmer.
The Penmen would post a 3-0 lead after two innings of play as Daly was hit by a pitch and Jenkins singled to right field. Melissa Vitagliano (Bedford, N.H.) then connected for her seventh homerun of the season to score three runs. Southern Connecticut would answer with four runs in the bottom of the third inning as the lead-off batter singled and scored on a double by Jillian Thibault. Brittany Bucko would draw a walk, and with two runners on, Alyssa Downs connected for a three-run homerun.
Cheney would tie the game in the top of the sixth on a solo homerun. Neither team would score again in regulation, forcing extra innings.
Kelsey Griffin (Scarborough, Maine) earned the win in the circle for the Penmen, scattering six hits, four earned runs and one walk over eight innings while striking out five. Jayme Larson recorded the loss in extra innings, pitching 2.2 innings in relief for Brittany Hill and Jessica Rosa, who together combined for 5.1 innings pitched.
Kristin Whitley went 3-3 at the plate with two homeruns and a double and three RBIs to lead the Owls to a 4-0 win in the nightcap. Amanda Barton (Franklin, N.H.) took the loss in the circle for the Penmen, scattering six hits, four earned runs, and two walks over five innings while striking out three. Dolores Mattice (Schenectady, N.Y.) pitched in relief and did not sacrifice a hit in one inning played.
The Penmen connected for five hits in the nightcap, as Elena Anderson (Salem, Wisc.), Cheney, Daly, Kate Stanley (Kingston, Mass.) and Vitagliano all recorded single tallies.
Southern New Hampshire returns to action tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., traveling to the University of New Haven for the final regularly scheduled doubleheader of the 2011 season.
