Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score 

When and Where: March 11, 2016 – Clermont, Fla. (National Training Center Softball Complex)
Scores: Pace University 3, Southern New Hampshire University 2 (Game 1), Southern New Hampshire University 3, St. Thomas Aquinas College 0 (Game 2)
Records: SNHU 1-1 (0-1 Northeast-10), Pace 1-1 (1-0 Northeast-10), STAC 0-2

Senior Katie Caruso (Newton, Mass.) recorded five hits and sophomore Sarah Lavallee (Candia, N.H.) spun a four-hit shutout in game two to help No. 20 Southern New Hampshire University split its opening day doubleheader at the National Training Center Softball Complex in Clermont, Florida on Friday.

The Penmen fell to Pace University in game one by a final score of 3-2 before topping St. Thomas Aquinas College, 3-0, in game two.

Caruso was 3-for-3 in the opener with a walk and a run scored before going 2-for-4 in game two to lead the SNHU offense. Classmate Lindsey Bolduc (Londonderry, N.H.) finished with four hits, three of which went for extra bases and an RBI.

Lavallee struck out a career-high six hitters and walked one en route to earning the career complete game victory. She allowed just two baserunners to advance past second and went to three balls on only on batter.

The Penmen provided Lavallee with the only offense she would need in the top half of the first. Senior Mo Hannan (Scarborough, Maine) led off the contest with a line drive double to right before Bolduc ripped a two-bagger of her own to the gap in left-center to push across the game's first run.

The score would remain unchanged until the top of the fifth when Southern New Hampshire extended its lead to a pair. Bolduc smacked her second double of the afternoon and after she advanced to third on a throw, freshman Erin Garczynski (Norwood, Mass.) lifted a sacrifice fly to right to make it 2-0.

Lavallee responded with a shutdown inning in the home half in the frame before she led off the top of the sixth with a double off the wall in center. Junior Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.) followed with a single, and pinch runner Dianna Jamgochian (Arlington, Mass.) came around to score on an RBI groundout by sophomore Katie Horiuchi (Livingston, N.J.) to provide the final margin of victory.

In Friday's lid lifter, senior Nicole Gubellini (Salem, N.H.) punched out seven Pace hitters and scattered four hits in a complete game setback.

The Setters received all their offense with one swing, as Nikole Larm took an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left for a three-run home run in the top half of the first inning.

The Penmen battled back, and closed the gap to a single run in the fourth. Caruso led off the frame with a single to left and crossed the plate when Lavallee followed with a double. Torsiello stepped in next and put a ball in play that was mishandled by the Pace second baseman, which allowed Lavallee to scamper around to cut the deficit to 3-2.

It would be as close as Southern New Hampshire would get, as Setters' starter Kaitlynn Nelson settled in and allowed two hits over the next three innings to close out the contest. 

Notes:
- After striking out six in 18 innings of work a season ago, Lavallee doubled her career total in seven innings on Friday.
- The Penmen stranded 18 runners in the doubleheader, including 11 against Pace.

What's Next:
Southern New Hampshire resumes play on Saturday (March 12) with a nonconference twin bill against Caldwell College (1-1) at 1 p.m. and Edinboro University (5-4) at 3 p.m. in Clermont.

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