NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader with the defending league champion Johnson & Wales University on Sunday at the NU Softball Field.

Norwich (9-13, 9-3 GNAC) dropped a tough 6-3 decision in eight innings in the opener, but then rallied back to take the second game 8-4 to salvage a split with the Wildcats (18-7, 6-4 GNAC).

Freshman pitcher Rachel Johnson (Stockbridge, Vt.) was superb in the second game, striking out a career-high 13 batters against the league's top offense to lead the Cadets to their ninth victory in the last 12 games. Johnson improved to 5-7 with the win after she gave up four earned runs on six hits and six walks.

Norwich used a five-run third inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 lead after three innings.

Sophomore Kassy Kazimierczak (Adams, Mass.) led the offense in Game 2 with a 2-for-3 effort and three RBIs. Senior catcher Angie Hershberger (Felton, Calif.) went 3-for-3 with a RBI and run scored in the nightcap as part of a 5-for-7 day overall at the plate.

Naomi Rinaldo (Middlefield, Conn.), Taylor Morris (Haverhill, Mass.) and Emily Oliver (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) all had two hits a RBI as well to round out the Cadets' offensive highlights in Game 2.

Johnson & Wales' Kristen Solari went 2-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the Wildcats' offense in Game 2.

Norwich snapped a six-game losing streak to Johnson & Wales with the victory in Game 2 and maintained its hold on second place in the GNAC standings with the victory. Suffolk (7-3) and Saint Joseph's Maine (10-4) follow close on Norwich's heels for the second of two double-bye spots. Univ. of St. Joseph (Conn.) still leads the league with a 10-2 record despite being swept by Saint Joseph's (Maine) on Sunday.

In Game 1, the Cadets took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with Hershberger driving in two runs on a double for her first of two hits in the game. Johnson & Wales responded in the top of the second inning with a towering home run from Emily Gorecki to cut the lead to 2-1. The Wildcats added two more runs in the top of the second with Jennifer Corona notching a RBI single and then she later scored on a wild pitch.

The Cadets tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with Hershberger lacing another RBI double to score Sarah Perry (New Bedford, Mass.).

Johnson & Wales took control of the game in the top of the eighth inning with Alex Fantasia scoring Kaycee Babineau and Alexis DeMoss to take a 5-3 lead. Brenna Duperry added another run with a RBI ground out that scored Angelica Reyes.

Norwich was able to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom half of the inning, but Oliver popped up to shortstop to end the game.

Oliver took the loss on the mound, falling to 4-5 on the year. She gave up 10 hits and three earned runs while walking three and striking out two. Corona picked up the victory after not allowing an earned run, walking two and striking out five.

Norwich continues its eight-game home stand on Tuesday with another important GNAC doubleheader vs. Suffolk at 3 and 5 p.m. The Cadets close out the home stand by hosting Lyndon State for a pair of non-league games on Wednesday.