BOSTON – The Norwich University softball team stayed perfect in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with a doubleheader sweep of Simmons for the first time since 2007.

The Cadets (4-10, 4-0 GNAC) rallied for a 4-3 win in Game 1 and then outlasted the Sharks (6-7, 0-2 GNAC) for a 4-2 victory in nine innings in the nightcap.

Norwich also stretched its winning streak to four straight with the sweep and kept itself in a three-way tie at the top of the league standings with Univ. of Saint Joseph (Conn.) and Albertus Magnus.

Freshman shortstop Naomi Rinaldo (Middlefield, Conn.) went 4-for-4 in the first game with two runs scored to account for half of the Cadets' hits and runs. She also had a RBI triple in the top of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie. Sophomore Kassy Kazimierczak (Adams, Mass.) launched her first home run of the season and senior Taylor Morris (Haverhill, N.H.) went 2-for-4 with a RBI to round out the Norwich offensive leaders.

Freshman Emily Oliver (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) continued her impressive start to her career in the circle, going the distance to pick up the victory. She gave up five hits and three earned runs while striking out a career-high seven to improve to 2-3 on the season.

In Game 2, Norwich scored twice in the top of the ninth inning and then held Simmons' scoreless in the second extra frame with the international tie-breaker rule in effect to walk away with the big sweep.

Oliver came up with the big hit in the top of the ninth with a RBI double after NU had its first two players get out. Oliver scored Kazimierczak and then came home herself on a RBI single by Payton Warner (Harwich, Mass.)

Warner and Oliver each notched two hits to lead the Norwich offense.

Freshman Rachel Johnson (Stockbridge, Vt.) picked up her second straight win on the mound, striking out nine over the nine innings and giving up just four hits and one earned run.

Norwich will look to keep the momentum rolling on Sunday afternoon when it travels to Saint Joseph's Maine for another GNAC doubleheader. The Cadets return home to host Suffolk on Tuesday, April 12.