NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader with Lasell College on Thursday afternoon at the NU Softball Field.

The Cadets fell 5-4 in the opener, despite freshman Rachel Johnson (Stockbridge, Vt.) allowing just two hits in the circle. Johnson recorded her 100^th strikeout, en route to tallying seven strikeouts in the game.

Errors plagued Norwich (15-17, 13-7 GNAC) in the first game with the Cadets committing four errors which forced four unearned runs across the plate and led to NU's downfall.

Lasell (8-24, 5-15 GNAC) didn't record its first hit until the top of the sixth inning when Emily DeAngelis laced a double down the left field line that scored two runs and pushed Lasell's lead to 3-1. The Lasers added two more runs in the inning to pull ahead 5-4.

Norwich answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with Jessica Hindman (Marshfield, Mass.) crushing a two-run double over the center fielder's head to plate two runs and cut the deficit to one. However, that's as close as the Cadets would get even after loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning with no one out. NU couldn't push the tying run across and had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Naomi Rinaldo (Middlefield, Conn.), Angie Hershberger (Felton, Calif.) and Hindman all had two hits to lead the Norwich offense. Kassy Kazimierczak (Adams, Mass.) scored two runs after reaching base twice on walks.

Eileen Bergin picked up the win for Lasell, going the distance, allowing nine hits and four earned runs while striking out six and walking two. She improved to 4-11 on the season. Johnson dropped to 8-9 on the year for Norwich.

In Game 2, Norwich's offense woke up with a big six-run inning in the bottom of the first inning to assert its dominance from the outset.

The Cadets pounded out 14 hits en route to a 10-2 mercy-rule victory over Lasell to salvage the split with the Lasers.

Taylor Morris (Haverhill, N.H.) went 3-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the Norwich offense in the nightcap. Rinaldo and Olivia Bussiere (Northfield, Vt.) also notched two hits for NU.

Hindman stayed hot with another two RBIs. Hershberger also picked up two RBIs to help lead the Cadets' offense. Freshman Emily Oliver (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) launched her third home run of the season to tie Hershberger and Kazimierczak for the team lead.

Oliver also picked up the win on the mound, surrendering just one hit and two earned runs while striking out a career-high seven batters. She improved to 5-7 on the season.

Norwich fell into a tie for fourth place with Emmanuel with both teams having identical 13-7 conference records. The Cadets close out the regular season on Saturday when they host Anna Maria at 1 and 3 p.m. Emmanuel closes out with Albertus Magnus.

The Cadets could finish as high as third place in the GNAC standings with two victories and losses by Emmanuel and Univ. of Saint Joseph (Conn.).

Prior to Saturday's games, NU will honor its three seniors in Angie Hershberger, Payton Warner and Taylor Morris.