NORTHFIELD, Vt. – For the second straight day the Norwich softball team split a GNAC doubleheader as the Cadets downed Emmanuel 9-1 in the opener before falling 9-5 in the nightcap on a gorgeous Friday afternoon at the NU Softball Field.
Norwich (10-18, 10-10 GNAC) drew first blood in the bottom of the second when Maggie Walsh brought home Seana Ellsworth for an RBI single to stake the Cadets to a 1-0 lead. Emmanuel tied the game at one in the top of the third inning when Kelly Lloid singled home Jackie Murray.
However, it was all NU from there as Norwich took the lead for good when Marley Balasco blasted her third home run in as many games to plate Erin Clark as well and give the Cadets a 3-1 lead.
NU tacked on six more runs that were capped by Briana Day's three-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning that ended the game due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Kylie Pratt picked up her fifth straight win in the circle for the Cadets going all six innings and giving up just one run on four hits and striking out two.
However, for the second straight day, Norwich surrendered an early big inning to its opponent as Emmanuel scored nine runs in the second inning to take a commanding lead in Game 2 that the Cadets were never able to recover from.
Balasco and Abby Belcher each had home runs for the Cadets and had three and two RBIs respectively to lead the NU offense.
Junior Kelsey Buker took the loss for Norwich to fall to 3-8 on the season after giving up seven earned runs on eight hits and four walks in 1 1/3rd innings of work. Pratt finished the game for Norwich and gave up just two hits in 5 2/3rd innings.
Norwich returns to action on Monday when it travels to Pine Manor for a re-scheduled GNAC doubleheader.
The Cadets currently sit in a tie for sixth place with Johnson & Wales with each team having four games remaining. NU returns home to close out the regular season on Tuesday with a doubleheader against second-place St. Joseph's Maine.
