Southern New Hampshire University softball split a Northeast 10 doubleheader at Bentley University on Wednesday afternoon, earning a 5-4 victory in the opener before falling 3-2 in Game 2.  Junior Mikaya Alto (Chelmsford, Mass.) led the way offensively for the Penmen, going 6-for-7 with two doubles and two RBIs on the day.  

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Penmen built an early lead and held on for a 5-4 victory in the opener.
• SNHU struck for runs in each of the first three innings, highlighted by a two-run double from senior Abby Lineman (Doylestown, Pa.) in the first inning and an RBI double by Alto in the third to take a 3-0 lead.
• Bentley answered with three runs in the third inning and added another in the sixth to tie the game at 4-4.
• The Penmen responded in the seventh inning.  Junior Kaysie DeMoura (Taunton, Mass.) doubled and Lineman was hit by a pitch.  Alto singled to center field as pinch-runner freshman Tori Christie (Barnstead, N.H.) scored the go-ahead run.
• Junior Julianna Colbert (Burrillville, R.I.) earned the win in the circle, striking out eight over six innings to improve to 13-6 on the season, while sophomore Kayla O'Boyle (Commack, N.Y.) recorded her third save working around a walk in the bottom of the seventh inning.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Falcons rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win the nightcap, 3-2.  Bella Burke homered with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game.
• SNHU opened the scoring in the third inning, taking advantage of a pair of errors.  DeMoura delivered an RBI single to bring home senior Peyton Feldman (Foxborough, Mass.)
• The Penmen added another run in the fifth inning on a second RBI single from DeMoura to take a 2-0 lead.
• Bentley tied the game in the fifth inning.
• Alto reached on a single in the top of the sixth, and Feldman singled in the seventh, but SNHU could not push a go-ahead run across.
• Alto paced the offense again with three hits, while DeMoura drove in both runs.
• Freshman Sophie Roussel (Goffstown, N.H.) allowed one earned run in her five innings, and O'Boyle finished up the second game.

NOTES

• SNHU won the season series with Bentley, 3-1.
• Bentley leads the all-time series, 48-47.
• Colbert has earned victories in her last four appearances in the circle.

UP NEXT

• The Penmen will head to #18 Franklin Pierce for a pair of doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday.  SNHU is currently in third place in the NE10 while the Ravens are leading the league.
• The next home game is Tuesday, April 28 against American International College (2:30 p.m.).