BOX SCORE

When and Where: April 11, 2017 – Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Softball Field)
Score: Saint Michael's College 5, Southern New Hampshire University 4
Records: SNHU 15-12 (1-6 Northeast-10), SMC 3-12 (3-2 Northeast-10)

Sophomore Erin Garczynski (Norwood, Mass.) turned in a 2-for-4 day at the plate, but a four-run third inning propelled Saint Michael's College to a 5-4 victory over Southern New Hampshire University at the SNHU Softball Field on Tuesday. 

Junior Sarah Lavallee (Candia, N.H.) finished 1-for-2 with a home run and two walks, while freshmen Hannah Neverett (Nashua, N.H.) and Gabriella Vachon (Newton, Mass.) each added a hit and an RBI.

The Purple Knights, who served as the home team due to a site change, trailed by a run entering the bottom of the third before working five walks and using just two hits to score four times. Christina Brazeau worked a lead-off walk, and after moving up to second on a sacrifice bunt, Penmen pitching issued back-to-back free passes to Danielle Barbato and Torie Rathwell to load the bases. Caroline Staples followed with a booming two-out double to the wall in center before Danielle Markowski singled home the third run of the inning to make it 4-2. A walk to Katie Terban reloaded the bases for Julia Sevigny, and she worked a base on balls to force in Staples and extend the Saint Michael's advantage to three. 

The score stayed the same until the top of the fifth, when Lavallee connected on a titanic home run to left center that reached the picnic tables along the parking lot at the SNHU Softball Field and trimmed the deficit back to a pair.

Southern New Hampshire attempted to mount a rally in the top half of the seventh, as it loaded the bases with nobody out. After Garczynski led off with a base hit into left, senior Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.) lined a double to the wall in left to put runners on second and third. A four-pitch walk to Lavallee loaded the bases, and after a fielder's choice cut down a runner at the plate, Vachon lifted a sacrifice fly to center to pull the Penmen to within one. It would be as close as SNHU would come, as Saint Michael's was able to retire the ensuing batter to close things out.

The Penmen jumped out to an early lead with a two-run top half of the first. Junior Brittany Perdigao (Stoughton, Mass.) started things off with a base hit to left before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Perdigao advanced to third on a wild pitch, Torsiello and Lavallee reached on a hit-by-pitch and a walk to load the bases. Neverett delivered a single to center to drive in the first run, and the ball bounced past the Purple Knights' centerfielder to allow the second to cross the plate. Saint Michael's responded with a run in the bottom of the frame before tacking on four in the third. 

Freshman Maddy Barone (Halifax, Mass.) was saddled with the loss after surrendering four runs on two hits and four walks in 2.1 innings of work. Lavallee allowed one run on two hits without recording an out before senior Nicole Gubellini (Salem, N.H.) held the Purple Knights hitless over the final 3.2 innings.

Notes:
- The Penmen outhit Saint Michael's, 8-4, and played flawless defense while the Purple Knights committed a pair of miscues.
- Danielle Brown worked the first inning for Saint Michael's and allowed a pair of unearned runs on two hits, while Torie Rathwell tossed the final six and surrendered two runs on six hits with three walks.

What's Next
Southern New Hampshire resumes Northeast-10 play on Thursday (April 13) when it heads to the hilltop for a doubleheader with Queen City Cup rival Saint Anselm College, which is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m.

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