PAXTON, Mass. – The Norwich University softball team continued to roll on Wednesday with another Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader sweep against Anna Maria College.

The Cadets mercy-ruled the AMCATS in both games, taking the opener 12-3 in six innings and then winning Game 2 13-3 in five innings.

Norwich (13-4, 8-0 GNAC) extended its win streak to 13 straight games after dropping its first four of the season at the Snowbird Softball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Cadets also remained perfect in league play and sit tied for first place atop the GNAC standings with Emerson.

NU pounded out 18 hits in both games with all nine starters recording at least one hit in each game.

Sophomore outfielder Kelly Travers (Whitman, Mass.) had a monster day at the plate going 8-for-9 with two doubles, a triple, five runs scored and four RBIs to lead the GNAC's top scoring offense.

Junior Abby Belcher (Winthrop, Mass.) increased her league-leading batting average to .557 with a 5-for-7 day at the dish with four runs scored, two walks and two RBIs for the Cadets' leadoff hitter and offensive catalyst.

Senior cleanup hitter Noel Byers (Iron Mountain, Mich.) went 4-for-7 with four runs scored and three RBIs, while junior designated player Briana Day (Yelm, Wash.) posted a 4-for-7 day with two doubles and four RBIs.  Freshman Angie Hershberger (Felton, Calif.) went 3-for-7 with two RBIs and two runs scored and junior first baseman Erin Clark (Newbury, Vt.) went 3-for-7 as well with three runs scored and two RBIs.

In Game 1, Norwich used an eight-run explosion in the top of the sixth to finally pull away from Anna Maria after leading 4-2 through five innings. Travers led off the inning with a triple and then was promptly brought home by a RBI single from Byers. Hershberger tripled to bring home Byers and then Clark scored Hershberger with a single. Junior Kaylie Miller (Long Lake, N.Y.) knocked the third NU triple of the inning to bring home Clark and force Anna Maria to pull starting pitcher Nichole Lowe for Angela Vousboukis.

The Cadets weren't done yet though as Belcher greeted Vousboukis with a RBI single to score Miller from third. Freshman Payton Warner (Harwich, Mass.) doubled to move Belcher to third and then Travers brought both home with a two-run single and then Day finally capped the inning with a RBI double to score Travers.

Miller picked up the win on the mound after surrendering two earned runs on eight hits while striking out four in five innings of work. Sophomore Stephanie Lamy (Bedford, N.H.) came on in relief in the sixth inning and gave up one earned run.

In Game 2, the Cadets featured a much more balanced offense scoring at least two runs in all five innings on their way to winning 13-3 in five innings. Freshman Taylor Morris (Haverhill, N.H.) made her first collegiate start and picked up the win going five innings giving up two earned runs and three hits, while striking out seven and walking three.

Travers, Byers and Day each had two RBIs in the nightcap, while Belcher was 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Junior third baseman Maggie Walsh (North Plainfield, N.J.) also recorded a RBI for the Cadets.

Anna Maria fell to 2-15 overall on the year and 1-5 in GNAC play. Norwich returns to action on Saturday when it travels down to New Haven, Conn. to take on Albertus Magnus for another GNAC doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. The Cadets are currently scheduled to play their first official home game on Sunday when they host a potential first-place showdown with Emerson starting at 1 p.m. at the NU softball field.

 -CADETS-