Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University softball dropped a pair of close games to rival Saint Anselm College on Tuesday afternoon, falling 1-0 and 5-3.  Junior Mikaya Alto (Chelmsford, Mass.) led the way offensively for the Penmen, reaching base in five of six plate appearances on the day, including a 3-for-3 effort in Game 2 after drawing a walk and being hit by a pitch in the opener.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• A pitchers' duel in the opener was decided by a single swing, as Saint Anselm earned a 1-0 victory.
• The Hawks scored the game's only run in the second inning on a solo home run by Katie Fox.
• Junior Julianna Colbert (Burrillville, R.I.) was strong in the circle, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out eight over seven innings.
• SNHU was limited to three hits offensively, with freshman Payton Bryson (Franklin, N.H.), senior Abby Lineman (Doylestown, Pa.), and senior Peyton Feldman (Foxboro, Mass.) each recording one.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Penmen jumped out early but could not hold off a late Saint Anselm rally in a 5-3 loss in the nightcap.
• SNHU struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on a pair of Saint Anselm errors to take a 2-0 lead.
• The Hawks answered with three runs in the third inning to take the lead before the Penmen tied the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Bryson with the bases loaded after Alto singled, senior Sidney Rose doubled, and sophomore Taylor Reid (Holbrook, Mass.) reached on an error.
• Saint Anselm added two runs in the seventh inning, and SNHU was unable to complete the comeback despite a lead-off single by sophomore Alyssa Abbott (Hudson, N.H.)
• Freshman Sophie Roussel (Goffstown, N.H.) allowed three unearned runs in her 5.1 innings, and sophomore Kayla O'Boyle (Commack, N.Y.) also worked in the circle.

NOTES

• The Penmen have dropped five of their last six games.
• Alto's batting average climbs to .308 and she joins junior Kaysie DeMoura (Taunton, Mass.), Lineman, and Abbott as players hitting over .300.
• Roussel's earned run average sits at 1.48.  She has not allowed an earned run in five consecutive starts (28 innings).  
• Saint Anselm takes a 52-51 lead in the all-time series and has won the last three meetings.

UP NEXT

• The Penmen will continue the series at Saint Anselm's South Athletic Fields with a doubleheader on Thursday at 2 p.m.
• SNHU will return home this weekend to host American International College for doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday at Noon.