GAME ONE BOX SCORE
GAME TWO BOX SCORE

When and Where: March 11, 2017 – Clermont, Florida (Legends Way)
Scores: Game One: No. 25 Southern New Hampshire University 8, Molloy College 5 | Game Two: Molloy College 7, No. 25 Southern New Hampshire University 3
Records: SNHU 7-3, Molloy 5-3 

Sophomore Erin Garczynski (Norwood, Mass.) finished 5-for-7 with two doubles and five runs batted in to help lead No. 25 Southern New Hampshire University to a nonconference softball split against Molloy College at the PFX Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. The Penmen took Saturday's opener, 8-5, before dropping the nightcap to the Lions by a score of 7-3.

Freshman Hannah Neverett (Nashua, N.H.) turned in a 3-for-6 evening with a walk and two runs scored while junior Katie Horiuchi (Livingston, N.J.) also collected three hits with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

Freshman Gabriella Vachon (Newton, Mass.) earned her first career victory in game one after scattering seven hits, fanning seven and allowing just two earned runs in five innings of work.

Southern New Hampshire staked Vachon to an early lead, as it plated two runs in the top half of the first inning. Junior Brittany Perdigao (Stoughton, Mass.) led off the game with a walk and came around to score on a Garczynski single two batters later. Freshman Erin Tyrell (Milford, N.H.) stepped in next and plated Garczynski, who advanced to second on a Molloy miscue, with an RBI single to make it 2-0.

After the Lions trimmed the Penmen lead to a single run in the home half of the third, SNHU responded with a five-run fourth. Senior Devan Rabidou (Ashland, Mass.) led off with an infield single before classmate Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.) was hit by a pitch to put two on with one away. Neverett singled to load the bases, and Perdigao worked a walk to push across the third Penmen run. After Horiuchi singled through the right side to drive in Torsiello, Garczynski drilled a double to center to drive in a pair and put Southern New Hampshire in front, 7-1.

Molloy attempted to mount a comeback in the fifth, as it was able to score three times with the benefit of three Penmen errors to make it 7-4 after five complete. In the next half inning, Southern New Hampshire quickly responded by plating another run to build an 8-4 advantage. Tyrell drilled a one-out triple to left before Rabidou delivered a two-out base hit through the right side to reestablish a four-run cushion.

Senior Nicole Gubellini (Salem, N.H.) entered in the sixth inning and worked around a pair of hits and an unearned run to secure the victory by recording the final six outs.

Tyrell finished game one 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, and Rabidou added two hits in four trips to the plate to go along with an RBI and a run scored.

Saturday's nightcap saw the Lions jump out to a 2-0 lead after tallying single runs in both the first and third innings. Southern New Hampshire answered in the home half of the third, as it scored three times in the frame to take the lead. Neverett singled to right to lead things off before a Molloy error allowed Perdigao to reach and advanced Neverett to third. The Penmen then executed a double-steal to perfection, and Neverett scampered across with the first SNHU of the contest. After Horiuchi reached on the second error of the inning and put runners on the corners, Garczynski followed by plating both Horiuchi and Perdigao to make it a 3-2 ballgame through three.

The lead would be short-lived, however, as the Lions answered with three runs in the top of the fourth to take a lead they would never relinquish. Olivia Banulski connected on a two-run double with one away before Brianna Dalton added a double of her own to drive in Banulski and put the visitors on top, 5-3. The Lions would go on to tack on a run in the fifth courtesy of a sacrifice fly before an RBI single by Sarah Rambo in the seventh capped the game's scoring.

Freshman Maddy Barone (Halifax, Mass.) suffered the setback in the circle for Southern New Hampshire after going 3.1 innings and allowing five runs on eight hits and striking out two. Vachon provided 3.2 innings of relief and surrendered two runs on five hits.

Notes:
- The Penmen were outhit in the twinbill by a combined 22-17. Both sides struggled defensively, as Molloy committed six errors in the two game set while Southern New Hampshire had four of its own.
- Garczynski has reached base safely in eight of 10 games thus far for the Penmen. She is currently hitting at a .333 clip and has a team-high 12 runs batted in.
- Southern New Hampshire pitchers struck out 11 Lions on Saturday and have now fanned 51 batters in 71 innings. Penmen pitching is averaging over five strikeouts per seven innings, while their offense has punched out just 36 times this season.

What's Next:
Southern New Hampshire continues its Florida swing on Monday when it takes on Embry-Riddle University in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. 

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