CLERMONT, Fla. – The Southern New Hampshire University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at the National Training Center Softball Complex on Thursday, as it topped Grand Valley State University (11-2) 6-3, before falling in extra innings to Wilmington University (1-1), 6-5. The Penmen now stand at 6-2.

Freshman Sarah Lavallee (Candia, N.H.) led the Southern New Hampshire offense with three hits, including two home runs. Lavalle drove in three runs and scored three times, while junior Katie Caruso (Newton, Mass.) reached base four times on Thursday with three hits and a walk.

Senior Ali Maloof (Norwood, Mass.) moved to 4-0 on the season with a complete game, eight-strikeout effort against the Lakers in game one. Maloof also provided a two-out, two-run double against Grand Valley State that drove in what proved to be the game-winning run in the victory.

The Penmen jumped out to an early lead in the first game with a four-run second inning. Sophomore Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.) started the inning with a walk before senior Holly Eicher (Stoneham, Mass.) reached on an error. Lavallee followed with a base hit that scored Torsiello and put runners on first and second with one away. Two batters later, junior Mo Hannan (Scarborough, Maine) singled home Eicher to give Southern New Hampshire a 2-0 advantage. Maloof stepped in next and helped her own cause with a double that brought in Lavallee and Hannon and increased the Penmen lead to four.

After scratching a run across in the top of the third, Grand Valley State was able to cut the Southern New Hampshire edge to one in the top of the fourth. After Kaylie Rhynard led off the inning with a double, Heather Sperlazzo belted a two-run homer to make it 4-3 through three and a half.

In the bottom of the inning, Lavalle was able to push the Penmen ahead by a pair when she deposited a 2-1 pitch over the wall for her second long ball of the year.

Maloof held the Lakers off the board during the next half-inning, and Southern New Hampshire manufactured another run during its turn at the plate in the fifth. Caruso started things off with a walk before classmate Lindsey Bolduc (Londonderry, N.H.) ripped a base hit that advanced Caruso to third. Torsiello followed with an RBI fielder's choice to provide the final margin of victory.

Lavallee finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and two runs scored, while Hannan chipped in with a 2-for-4 showing.

Against the Wildcats, the Penmen struck first with a run in the top of the first. Caruso smacked a two-out double and came around to score when Bolduc tagged a double of her own.

After Wilmington evened the score in the bottom of the inning, Eicher led off the second by launching the first pitch she saw out of the ballpark to put Southern New Hampshire back in front at 2-1.

Miranda Pederson knotted the game at two in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out home run, but the Penmen were able to regain the lead in the top of the sixth. Caruso led off with a base hit and was moved over to second on a Bolduc sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Erin Morrissey (Commack, N.Y.) drove Caruso in two batters later with an RBI single to make it 3-2.

The Wildcats responded with three runs of their own in the home half of the sixth and took their first lead of the game at 5-3. Kelsey Doherty led off with a base knock and came around to score before Pederson connected on her second home run in as many at-bats, this one a two-run shot, to put Wilmington ahead.

Southern New Hampshire drew even in the seventh with a pair of runs to force extras. Lavalle blasted a leadoff home run to trim the deficit to one before freshman Brittany Perdigao (Stoughton, Mass.) slapped a single. After Perdigao swiped second, Hannan moved her over to third with a sacrifice bunt. Next up was Maloof, and she delivered a one-out, RBI single that plated Perdigao and tied the game at five.

After the Penmen went in order in the top of the eighth, the Wildcats pushed across the winning run with a two-out single. Due to international tiebreaking rules, Wilmington started the inning with a runner on second. Kelsey Doherty singled with one out and Cambria Ziemba was intentionally walked to load the bases. Colby Wyatt ended the game with a line-drive single to right-center that brought in Keara McCarthy and gave the Wildcats a 6-5 victory.

Lavallee tossed the first 5.2 innings, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out two before senior Rebecca Sherwood (Braintree, Mass.) threw the final two innings and surrendered two hits.

Southern New Hampshire is back in action on Friday with a pair of non-conference games against No. 21 University of Indianapolis at 1 p.m. and Ferris State University at 3 p.m.

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