MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Southern New Hampshire softball team claimed first place in the Northeast division of the Northeast-10 Conference with a 3-0 win over Saint Anselm College Tuesday evening. With the win, the Penmen match their win total from last year with a 19-9 overall record and are 11-4 in league play while Saint Anselm falls to 15-15 and 12-7 in the conference.

After retiring the Hawks in the first inning in the circle, Ali Maloof (Norwood, Mass.) led off the bottom of the inning with a single. She continued around the bases when Tesia Stanasek (Blackstone, Mass.) drove Maloof in with a double to left field to score the first Penmen run of the game and take a 1-0 lead into the second inning.

Southern New Hampshire built on its lead in the third inning when Kelsea Cheney (Abington, Mass.) blasted a double to center field and advanced to third on a Hawks error. Cheney scored when Cristy Jenkins (Hudson, N.H.) grounded out to the shortstop and earned an RBI to give SNHU a 2-0 advantage.

The final Penmen run came in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Holly Eicher (Stoneham, Mass.) singled to right field to advance Lindsey Bolduc (Londonderry, N.H.), who led off with a walk, to third base. Maloof followed with a single up the middle to score the freshman and to secure the win at 3-0.

Maloof earned the win in the circle for the Penmen while striking out nine batters in a complete game. The sophomore gave up just two hits with no runs allowed. Paige Cormier was credited with the loss for Saint Anselm, giving up nine Penmen hits and three runs.

The Penmen return to action Wednesday, April 17 when they travel to Franklin Pierce for a league doubleheader at 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.