GAME ONE BOX SCORE
GAME TWO BOX SCORE

When and Where: March 13, 2017 – Daytona Beach, Fla. (ERAU Softball Field)
Scores: Game One: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 2, No. 25 Southern New Hampshire University 1 | Game Two: No. 25 Southern New Hampshire University 3, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 2 (8 innings)
Records: SNHU 8-4, EARU 13-13

Sophomore Erin Garczynski (Norwood, Mass.) connected on a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to salvage the split of a nonconference softball doubleheader between No. 25 Southern New Hampshire University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Monday. Both sides earned victories in their final at-bats, as the Eagles used a walkoff double in game one to take a 2-1 final before the Penmen won game two, 3-2, in extras.

Garczynski finished 3-for-7 on Monday with an RBI and a pair of runs scored, while freshman Erin Tyrell (Milford, N.H.) was 4-for-5 in the doubleheader and drove in two runs.

After falling behind early in Monday's finale, Southern New Hampshire scratched across two runs in the top of the sixth to draw even. Junior Brittany Perdigao (Stoughton, Mass.) led off the frame with a base hit, and after classmate Katie Horiuchi (Livingston, N.J.) moved her up to second with a sacrifice bunt, Garczynski plated her with a single to right center to cut the Penmen deficit in half. Tyrell stepped in next and tagged a double to left that scored Garczynski, and knotted the score at two apiece.

Freshman Gabriella Vachon (Newton, Mass.), who entered in the bottom of the fourth and retired the first four batters she faced, returned to the circle in the sixth and turned in a shutdown inning to keep the game tied. After Southern New Hampshire went quietly in the top of the seventh, Vachon again held the Embry-Riddle offense in check. Vachon set down the first batter she faced before freshman Jordan Wade (Taunton, Mass.) cut down Destiny Carroll's attempt to stretch a single to right into a double. The momentum continued to shift in SNHU's direction when Vachon recorded the final out by snaring a line drive back to the mound to send the game to extras.

With one out in the eighth, Garczynski drilled a full-count pitch up and out of the yard to give the Penmen their first lead of the day at 3-2. The lead would stand as Vachon trotted back out for the home half of the frame and induced a pair of groundouts and a fly out to secure the victory.

Vachon worked 4.1 innings and allowed just one hit and stuck out one in relief of senior Nicole Gubellini (Salem, N.H.), who went the first 3.2 innings and allowed one earned run on four hits.

Game one was played in similar fashion to game two, as Embry-Riddle plated the game's first run before Southern New Hampshire battled back late to tie the game. After the Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, the Penmen broke through in the seventh to make it a one-all affair. Senior Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.) singled to lead things off before classmate Devan Rabidou (Ashland, Mass.) moved her into scoring position with a sac bunt. Tyrell followed with a pinch-hit double to the gap in left center to drive in Torsiello and knot things up.

In the bottom of the seventh, Embry-Riddle put two on with one out before Kassidy Simons doubled home the game-winning run to give the hosts the victory.

Torsiello turned in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a run scored, and freshman Maddy Barone (Halifax, Mass.) suffered the setback in the circle after scattering seven hits and allowing two runs with four punchouts. 

Notes:
- The Penmen narrowly outhit the Eagles, 13-12, in the twin bill and also committed one additional error (3-2) than the hosts
- With two doubles on Monday, Tyrell takes over the team lead for extra-base hits with six. She has three doubles, two triples and a home run through a dozen games, and has compiled a slash line of .361/.395/.639 to pace the Penmen in all-three categories.

What's Next:
Southern New Hampshire is back in action on Tuesday (March 14) when it takes on Dominican (N.Y.) College in a doubleheader slated to begin in Clermont, Florida at 11:30 a.m. 

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