MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Southern New Hampshire University softball team was defeated by a score of 3-1 to Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference play Friday afternoon. The Penmen are now 20-11 overall and 9-7 in the conference, while the Falcons improve to 15-13 and 9-9 in league play.

Ali Maloof (Norwood, Mass.) carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, despite giving up a hit in the final frame, and totaled a career-best 18 strikeouts.

She also had the lone RBI for SNHU in the bottom of the fifth. After Erin Morrissey (Commack, N.Y.) led-off with a walk to get on base, Maloof followed with a triple, her second of the season, to score one run and to take a 1-0 lead after a scoreless four innings.

However, in the next inning, a pair of Penmen fielding errors allowed for the Falcons to score two runs and to take a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh.

With a no-hitter going into the final inning, Maloof was able to retire the first batter, striking her out looking. But, with two outs and a runner on, Halley McDevitt singled up the middle to break up the no-hitter and to score another Bentley run to boost the lead to two runs.

The Penmen were unable to find an opening in the bottom of the seventh, and three straight players grounded out to end the game.

Maloof had 18 strikeouts in a one-hit effort despite getting the loss, while McDevitt had two strikeouts, and gave up three hits in the circle for the Falcons.

The Penmen and Bentley return to action tomorrow to finish the series with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.

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