WALTHAM, Mass. – No. 24 Southern New Hampshire University extended its season-high winning streak to six games on Friday with an 8-0 victory over Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference softball action at Bentley Field. The Penmen up their record to 27-6 and 16-3 in league play, while the Falcons fall to 11-16 and 8-10 in the NE-10.

Senior Ali Maloof (Norwood, Mass.) improved to 18-1 with her fifth shutout of the season. Maloof struck out seven and surrendered just three hits and a walk in the victory. She also extended her hitting streak to 19 games with a 1-for-3 performance that included an RBI.

Southern New Hampshire provided Maloof with all the offense she would need in the top half of the first. Junior Katie Caruso (Newton, Mass.) tagged a two-out single to left, and she came around to score when classmate Lindsey Bolduc (Londonderry, N.H.) smacked a double three pitches later that gave the Penmen a 1-0 advantage.

After Maloof worked around a leadoff triple and held Bentley off the board in the bottom of the first, Southern New Hampshire exploded for five runs in the second. Senior Holly Eicher (Stoneham, Mass.) started the inning off with a walk before sophomore Erin Morrissey (Commack, N.Y.) followed with a triple to right center that plated Eicher. After sophomore Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.) walked to put runners on first and third with nobody out, the Falcons misplayed a bunt off the bat of freshman Brittany Perdigao (Stoughton, Mass.) that allowed Morrissey to score the game's third run. Junior Mo Hannan (Scarborough, Maine) made it 4-0 with a fielder's choice that brought in Torsiello. Maloof stepped in next and singled home Perdigao, and Hannan crossed the plate on a wild pitch to the ensuing batter to give the visitors a 6-0 edge.

In the third, Morrissey singled to start the frame before Torsiello was hit by a pitch to put two on with nobody out. After Perdigao moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, Hannan delivered a two-run single to center that made it 8-0, and provided the final margin of victory.

Morrissey finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Penmen offense, while Hannan drove in a pair and scored a run in the victory. 

Southern New Hampshire closes out the regular season portion of its schedule on Saturday with a doubleheader against the Falcons slated to begin at noon. 

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