CLERMONT, Fla. – The Southern New Hampshire University softball team wrapped up play in Florida Saturday evening, dropping two games to snap its eight-game win streak. The Penmen fell to Queens College by a score of 5-1 in the first game, and Saginaw Valley State by a score of 3-2 in 10 innings in the later game.  SNHU is now 9-3 overall.

In the first game of the day, SNHU got on the board early in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, and held the lead until the third inning, but did not score again or have an answer for Queens' five runs.

Ali Maloof (Norwood, Mass.) scored the lone for the Penmen. She led-off in the first inning striking out, but reaching first on a passed ball. Devan Rabidou (Ashland, Mass.) advanced Maloof to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Mo Hannan (Scarborough, Maine) drove her home with an RBI single.

The Penmen held the Knights scoreless for the next two innings, but Queens rallied in the third inning scoring three runs to take a 3-1 lead.

SNHU could not find an answer, as the Knights built on their lead once again in the fifth scoring one more run, and finally in the seventh recording two more scores.

Dolores Mattice (Schenectady, N.Y.) had her first loss of the season in the circle, giving up eight hits, five runs, and striking out four batters.

In the second game of the day, SNHU fell in extra innings to Saginaw Valley State.

Maloof had a no-hitter for the Penmen going into the seventh inning, but the Cardinals' bats came alive in extra innings to take the win.

With neither team able to get on the board, they both had opportunities to score. SNHU had two opportunities with runners in scoring position, but could not convert them into runs. Once in the bottom of the third when Maloof doubled to left, but was left on base, and again in the following inning when Farmer singled and stole second to get in scoring position, but once again was left on.  

The Cardinals lone hit came in the top of the seventh when Hayward led-off with a single. A fielder's choice and a sacrifice hit put her in scoring position on second, but Maloof retired the next batter to end the inning, and send it to extras.

In the eighth inning, a runner was placed on second base to, following the international rule. Each team was able to advance the runner to third base, but was unsuccessful in getting a run.

Both teams were able to score in the ninth inning, with Saginaw Valley scoring first in the top of the ninth. A sacrifice hit advanced the runner placed on second to third, and made it home on a SNHU error to take a 1-0 lead.

The Penmen came up with an equalizer in the bottom of the ninth to force a tenth inning. With two outs, and Skyler Shugrue (Worcester, Mass.) on third, Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.) singled up the middle to score her classmate and tie the game at 1-1.

The tenth inning brought more runs for the Cardinals, scoring two more times to take the biggest lead of the game at 3-1. The Penmen came up with one run in the bottom of the tenth to cut the Cardinals' lead to one, but ran out of outs before they could score another run.

Despite giving up just three hits, Maloof got the loss in the circle. She finished with 14 strikeouts, while allowing three runs in 10 innings.

The Penmen return to action when they return home for their home opener doubleheader against Franklin Pierce on Wednesday, March 19. Game times are set for 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

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