NASHUA, N.H. – The Norwich University softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader with Albertus Magnus on Thursday at the Rivier University Softball Field.

Despite outhitting Albertus Magnus 10-7 in Game 1, the Cadets fell 8-3 to drop their fifth straight game. Norwich (12-10, 7-5 GNAC) rebounded in the nightcap though with a 6-2 victory to snap its losing skid.

In Game 2, senior shortstop Abby Belcher (Winthrop, Mass.) blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to turn a 2-0 deficit into a one-run lead that the Cadets would never look back from.

NU added another run in the third inning and then tacked on two more in the bottom of the fifth with Belcher and sophomore outfielder Payton Warner (Harwich, Mass.) scoring on passed balls.

Belcher, Erin Clark (Newbury, Vt.) and Kelly Travers (Whitman, Mass.) each had two hits for the Cadets to lead the offense in the Game 2 victory.

NU junior pitcher Corinne Baita (Rochester, N.H.) went the distance, surrendering eight hits and no earned runs while striking out four and walking one. She improved to 9-4 on the year and lowered her ERA to 1.03.

Despite racing out to a 3-1 lead in the first game, Norwich couldn't hold the lead as Albertus Magnus scored twice in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 5-3 lead and then added three more in the top of the seventh.

Norwich committed four errors which led to five unearned runs for Albertus Magnus. Travers went 3-for-4, while Justina George (Wallingford, Conn.) and Warner added two hits each for the Cadets.

Sophomore pitcher Taylor Morris (Haverhill, N.H.) got the start for Norwich, going 4.1 innings giving up four hits and three earned runs. Senior pitcher Kaylie Miller (Long Lake, N.Y.) came on for the last 2.2 innings and wasn't charged with an earned run.

Norwich will travel down to Suffolk and Emmanuel (Mass.) this weekend for two more GNAC doubleheaders.

-CADETS-