STANDISH, Maine – The Norwich University softball team dropped two tough losses to Saint Joseph's (Maine) in a showdown for first place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) standings on Sunday afternoon.

St. Joseph's (18-2, 10-0 GNAC) used a four-run fifth inning to take Game 1 4-1 and snap Norwich's seven-game winning streak. Saint Joseph's Maine followed up with a walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth to edge the Cadets 5-4 in the nightcap and strengthen its grasp to the top of the league standings.

Sophomore catcher Angie Hershberger (Felton, Calif.) staked Norwich (11-7, 6-2 GNAC) to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with her first home run of the season off of Saint Joe's Maine's ace Rae-Marie Copan.

The Monks finally broke through against Norwich ace Corinne Baita (Rochester, N.H.) in the bottom of the fifth. Carla Tripp and Kim Jordan opened the inning with back-to-back singles and then were advanced to second and third base following a sacrifice bunt by Connie Grovo.

Lindsay Moore reached on a fielder's choice with also scored Tripp from third to tie the game. Danica Gleason then broke the game open reaching on an error by the NU shortstop which allowed both Jordan and pinch runner Megen Pollini to score. Theresa Hendrix then capped the inning with a RBI double to score Gleason.

Baita was the tough luck loser for Norwich after she had already picked up four wins on the week. She surrendered one earned run on eight hits and one walk while striking out one. Coppan improved to 9-0 for St. Joe's, going the distance giving up one run on three hits while striking out five.

In Game 2, Saint Joseph's Maine raced out to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the bottom of the first inning off NU starting pitcher Kaylie Miller (Long Lake, N.Y.). Gleason and Hendrix picked up RBI singles to put the Monks up 2-0. Melissa Mayhew and Mariah Harrison also picked up RBIs, scoring Gleason and Hendrix to put the Monks out to a commanding lead early.

After the first, Miller settled down and starting mowing down the Monks' powerful lineup. She gave up just hits the rest of the game and retired 10 of the next 11 hitters before errors allowed a couple base runners.

Norwich started its comeback in the top of the third with a solo home run by sophomore Payton Warner (Harwich, Mass.) to cut the deficit to 4-1. Senior Abby Belcher (Winthrop, Mass.) added a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning that also scored Justina George (Wallingford, Conn.) to bring the Cadets within one run.

Down to its final out in the top of the seventh, junior Kelly Travers (Whitman, Mass.) delivered a RBI double to score Taylor Morris (Haverhill, N.H.). NU almost took the lead on the play but Chelsey Toney (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) was cut down at the plate trying to score.

Miller retired the Monks 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings and the international tie-breaker rule. After George advanced Travers to third with a sacrifice bunt, Melissa Rome and Belcher were unable to score Travers after a strikeout and a line out to second base.

Saint Joe's Maine wasted little time in its turn at the plate in the bottom half of the eighth. Hendrix laced a walk off RBI double to score Gleason from second base to give the Monks a 5-4 victory and the series sweep.

Norwich will look to get back on track on Wednesday when it travels to the Univ. of Saint Joseph (Conn.) for another GNAC doubleheader against the Blue Jays who are 5-3 in league play so far.