PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Norwich softball team picked up its first win of the 2011 season on Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 win in the Cadets' Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener against Johnson & Wales University. JWU came back to win the second game though, 8-4 to salvage a split in the doubleheader.

Norwich (1-9, 1-1 GNAC) jumped out on top early with three runs in the first inning. Senior C Marley Balasco's RBI single brought home Abby Belcher who had walked to open the inning and then stole second base. Back-to-back singles from Noel Byers and Erin Clark plated Balasco to push the Cadets' lead to 2-0 and then Erin Vien capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that brought home Byers.

Johnson & Wales got two runs back in the bottom of the second inning with RBI hits from Alyssa Babineau and Robyn Ziegler to cut the Cadets' lead to 3-2 and then the Wildcats tied the game up at 3 when Korissa Bailey scored on Lauren Lomanaco's fielder's choice.

However, the Cadets responded right back in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead for good by capitalizing on two JWU errors. Vien led off the inning with a triple and then came home to score on an error by JWU pitcher Taylor Cwalinski. Seana Ellsworth also crossed the plate after another error by Cwalinski later in the inning.

Kelsey Buker picked up her first win of the season in the circle, going five innings and surrendering two earned runs on five hits, while striking out three.

Kylie Pratt made her first appearance of the season and pitched two shutout innings to record the save for the Cadets. Pratt walked one and struck out two Wildcats.

In the second game, NU trailed just 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. However, three errors helped the Wildcats push across two runs to increase their lead to 6-3 and the Cadets were never able to recover.

Belcher, Balasco, Briana Day, and Ellsworth each recorded hits for the Cadets while Byers, Day, and Belcher had an RBI each as well.

Kaylie Miller worked 4 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out one.

Pratt came on in relief again in the fifth and sixth innings, but this time took the loss after giving up two earned runs on six hits while striking out six.

Ziegler led the JWU offense going 2-for-4 with four RBIs, while Lomanaco chipped in with three hits and two RBIs.

JWU improved to 1-9 overall and 1-1 in GNAC play.