MANCHESTER, N.H. – Katie Caruso (Newton, Mass.) homered twice to lead the Southern New Hampshire University softball team to a five inning 8-0 victory over Saint Michael's College Thursday evening in Northeast-10 Conference play. The Penmen improve to 12-4 overall and 1-0 in the league, while the Purple Knights fall to 1-12 and 1-4 in conference play.

Caruso led the Penmen with four RBIs, going 2-3 at the plate, including her two homeruns. Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.) was 1-1 with an RBI, while Morgan Farmer (Kingston, N.H.) had two hits, including an RBI double, and Holly Eicher (Stoneham, Mass.) added an RBI with a solo homer for SNHU.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, with Ali Maloof (Norwood, Mass.) striking out nine Purple Knights' batters to keep them off the board.

Farmer got things going in the fourth when she led-off with a single to the shortstop, and advanced to second on an Erin Morrissey (Commack, N.Y.) sacrifice bunt. Caruso followed with a two-run shot, her first of the game, to left field to put the Penmen on the board and score two runs.

After retiring Saint Michael's side in the top of the fifth, Eicher led-off the inning for SNHU with a solo homer to center field to give the hosts a 3-0 lead. Mo Hannan (Scarborough, Maine) then singled up the middle to get on base, and Lindsey Bolduc (Londonderry, N.H.) singled through the left side to advance Hannan to second. With two runners on, Farmer doubled off the left center fence to score one, and move Bolduc to third, and then Torsiello followed with another single to score two more runs. Caruso then hit her second homerun to left center to score the game-winning runs.

Maloof pitched four innings for the Penmen striking out nine, and allowing three hits. Rebecca Sherwood (Braintree, Mass.) relieved Maloof in the fifth to finish the game for SNHU. Lea Gipson got the loss in the circle for the Purple Knights, giving up 10 hits and five runs.

The Penmen return to action tomorrow when they host Merrimack College for a doubleheader with games at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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