GAME 1 BOX SCORE | GAME 2 BOX SCORE 

When and Where: March 30, 2016 – Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Softball Field)
Scores: Game One: No. 21 Southern New Hampshire University 6, Franklin Pierce University 0 | Game Two: No. 21 Southern New Hampshire University 3, Franklin Pierce University 0
Records: SNHU 13-5 (5-1 Northeast-10), FPU 5-12 (1-4 Northeast-10)

Sophomore Sarah Lavallee (Candia, N.H.) and junior Nicole Gubellini (Salem, N.H.) each tossed complete-game, three-hit shutouts, and senior Katie Caruso (Newton, Mass.) drove in five runs to lead No. 21 Southern New Hampshire University to a doubleheader sweep of Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference softball action at the SNHU Softball Field on Wednesday. The Penmen picked up a 6-0 victory in game one before taking game two, 3-0.

Lavallee improved to 8-2 on the season after striking out six and walking just one in seven innings. She also helped her own cause offensively with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate in the opener that included an RBI.

Gubellini turned in arguably her finest performance in the circle this season to up her record to 4-3. She fanned three, hit two batters and allowed only one runner to advance past second base in her fifth complete-game effort of the season.

Caruso, the reigning Northeast-10 Player of the Week, provided Lavallee with all the support she would need in the opener with a two-run shot in the bottom of the first. After freshman Erin Garczynski (Norwood, Mass.) worked a two-out walk, Caruso took a 1-0 offering over the wall in left to stake the hosts to a 2-0 advantage.

The score remained unchanged until the fourth when Southern New Hampshire extended its lead to a three-run cushion. Sophomore Brittany Perdigao (Stoughton, Mass.) and Lavallee led off the frame with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners for junior Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.), who then lifted a sacrifice fly to right.

Lavallee set down the side in order in the fifth before adding to the run total in the home half of the frame. Garczynski and Caruso reached with one away before moving into scoring position on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Lavallee laced a run-scoring single to left to make it 4-0 through five.

The Penmen capped the scoring in the bottom of the sixth, as Caruso again drove in both runs with one swing. After senior Mo Hannan (Scarborough, Maine) drew a walk and classmate Lindsey Bolduc (Londonderry, N.H.) made her way to first with a fielder's choice, Garczynski loaded the bases on the second free pass of the inning. Caruso stepped in next and doubled into the gap in left center, plating Hannan and Bolduc with the fifth and sixth runs of the game.

In game two, Southern New Hampshire again used the bottom of the first inning to take the lead for good. Garczynski reached on a fielder's choice before a Caruso base hit advanced her to third with one out. Two pitches later, Perdigao became the beneficiary of a Ravens' miscue in the field that allowed Garczynski to scamper home with the game's first run.

Gubellini put together a shutdown inning in the second before running into the only trouble she would face in the third. After Morgan Cahill (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) led off for Franklin Pierce with an infield single, Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) sent a double down the line in right to put two on with one out. Madison Ryan (Dracut, Mass.) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Gubellini settled in and retired the next two batters on an infield fly and a lineout to Caruso.

In similar fashion to Wednesday's first contest, the Penmen put added runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to put the game out of reach. Caruso struck again in the fifth, as she drilled her second two-bagger of the afternoon off the wall in straightaway center to bring in Bolduc and make it 2-0. In the sixth, an error off the bat of Hannan allowed Torsiello to cross the plate and provide the final margin of victory.

Caruso combined to go 4-for-7 on Wednesday with a home run, two doubles and five runs batted in. Lavallee finished with three hits in the twinbill, while Perdigao and junior Erin Morrissey (Commack, N.Y.) each added two hits apiece. 

Notes:
- Caruso extended her personal hitting streak to six consecutive games. Over that span, she is batting .600 (12-for-20) with three home runs, 12 RBI, eight runs scored and has an on-base percentage of .636.
- Lavallee has also put together a six-game hitting streak for Southern New Hampshire and a .500 (9-for-18) batting average in that stretch. In her last six games, Lavallee has two home runs, eight runs batted in and .550 OBP.

What's Next:
The Penmen are back in action on Thursday (March 31) when they close out their season series with Merrimack College at the SNHU Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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