NASHUA, N.H. – The Norwich University softball team opened up its 2015 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) season with a doubleheader split vs. Anna Maria at a neutral site in Rivier University.

Norwich (3-7, 1-1 GNAC) dropped the opener 14-6 in five innings before receiving a dominant pitching performance from Corinne Baita (Rochester, N.H.) in the nightcap's 6-0 victory over the AMCATS.

Baita was superb, firing a complete-game, four-hit shutout while striking out eight and walking one to completely shut down the AMCAT offense.

Payton Warner (Harwich, Mass.), Sarah Perry (New Bedford, Mass) and Melissa Rome (Enfield, Conn.) led the offense with two hits apiece, while freshman Kassy Kazimierczak (Adams, Mass.) added a three-RBI double in the top of the first inning to help the Cadets sprint out to a 4-0 lead they would never back from.

Norwich tacked on runs in the top of the fifth with sophomore Sarah Peyton (Eagle River, Alaska) knocking a sacrifice fly to plate Perry and then Perry drew a walk to score Jordan Day (Andover, Mass.) on a wild pitch.

Baita picked up her first win of the season with the victory and lowered her earned run average to 2.12 on the season. Baita has 45 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched now.

In the opener, Norwich fell behind 5-0 early and couldn't ever tie the game up again. NU pulled to within 5-4 heading to the bottom of the fourth, but Anna Maria added three more runs and then six more in the fifth to mercy rule the Cadets.

Warner, Perry, Rome and Taylor Morris (Haverhill, N.H.) each had two hits to lead the offense. Kazimierczak once again had a multiple-RBI effort with a two-run home run. Rome also homered for the Cadets.

Morris had a tough day on the mound, going 4.2 innings, giving up 11 earned runs, walking six and striking out two. She fell to 2-2 on the year.

Norwich travels to Albertus Magnus on Saturday for a doubleheader vs. the Falcons at noon and 2 p.m. NU will also take on Johnson & Wales on Sunday at noon and 2 p.m. as well.