When and Where: April 24, 2022 - Hooksett, N.H. (SNHU Softball Field)
Game 1: Southern New Hampshire University 13, American International College 1 (5 innings)
Game 2: Southern New Hampshire 8, American International College 0 (6 innings)
Records: SNHU 18-18 (12-8 NE10), AIC 3-33 (1-21 NE10)
(Hooksett, N.H.) - Sophomore Shannon Gifford (Goffstown, N.H.) went 3-for-4 with six RBI to help lead Southern New Hampshire to an 8-0 win and a sweep of an NE10 doubleheader from American International College on Senior Day Sunday. The Penmen won the opener 13-1.
GAME 1 – SNHU 13-1 (5 innings)
- Three defensive miscues from the Yellow Jackets allowed SNHU to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
- The Penmen extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the third inning on a solo home run from sophomore Bella Dickinson (Scarborough, Maine). It was her second homer of the weekend. An RBI single from junior Bryn Garczynski (Norwood, Mass.) scored senior Jessica Johnston (Brussles, Ontario), who reached on a walk.
- AIC's Abigail Wells matched Dickinson's homerun with a solo shot of her own in the top of the fourth inning, but a monster bottom of the inning for the Penmen helped them secure the game, putting up six hits and eight runs to extend the lead to 13-1.
- Senior Emily Carbonneau (Lowell, Mass.), graduate student Chloe Griffin (Scarborough, Maine), Dickinson, sophomore Jill Johnson, and Garczynski all had hits in the fourth – 11 came to the plate in the frame.
- When Carbonneau returned to the plate for the second time with the bases loaded and two outs, she hit a 3-run double to right field and scored on an error from the catcher to third base.
- Sophomore Leine McKechnie (Passadumkeag, Maine) pitched a complete game allowing just three hits and one run. She improves to 6-5 on the season.
GAME 2 – SNHU 8-1 (6 innings)
- The Penmen jumped out to another quick lead in Game 2 in the first inning. Garczynski led off with a triple to start the game and she scored on an RBI double from Gifford, who later scored on an error opening the lead to 2-0.
- Junior Abi Gray (Litchfield, N.H.) got the Penmen going in the second inning with a double – she advanced to third on a single from Johnston and scored on a single to left field from Gifford. Johnston later scored on an RBI single from sophomore Alyssa Dimauro (Chester, N.H.) extending the lead to 4-0.
- Gray notched her second big hit of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning when she tripled to deep right field. She later scored on a sac fly from Gifford.
- The Penmen closed the deal in the bottom of the 6th inning after Gifford hit a monster walk-off, three-run triple extending the lead to 8-0 and forcing a run rule. Gifford drove in Johnson, Johnston, and Garczynski to give her six runs batted in for the contest.
- Griffin pitched a complete game shutout in her Senior Day game. She allowed just two hits and two walks on the day and improves to 5-5 on the season.
NOTES
- Gifford became the first Penmen to drive in six runs in a game since Gray did it, 3/10/20 vs. Le Moyne.
- Garczynski had five hits, four runs and 2 RBIs on the day.
- Griffin had a pair of doubles in the first game, and another hit in the nightcap, giving her 106 for her career. She moves into 24th place on the all-time hit list ahead of Jordan Wade (2020).
- Dickinson recorded her fifth home run of the season (second of the weekend) to lead the Penmen.
- Jill Johnson's pinch-hit single in the fourth inning of the first game was her first career hit, and first career RBI. She also singled in the second game.
- SNHU celebrated its four seniors at the SNHU Softball field: Chloe Griffin, Brittany Mota, Jessica Johnston, and Emily Carbonneau.
- AIC leads the all-time series with SNHU 31-14, although the Penmen won all four meetings in 2022.
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