NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University softball team had its Senior Day spoiled by the Saint Joseph's (Maine) Monks on Sunday afternoon at the NU Softball Field. 

The Monks (14-14, 10-4 GNAC) swept the Cadets by scores of 6-3 and 6-1 in Norwich's final regular season home games of the 2017 season and the last for its three seniors, Sarah Peyton (Eagle River, Alaska), Justina George (Wallingford, Conn.) and Alex Jones (Topsfield, Mass.). 

Norwich (8-19-1, 8-10 GNAC) closes out the regular season with three straight away doubleheaders vs. Rivier, Lyndon State and Lasell. 

In Game 1, Saint Joseph's (Maine) got three RBIs from Melodie Bailey on 2-for-4 from the plate to lead the Monks' offense. Meghan Elliot added three hits and a RBI as well. Carla Tripp scored three runs for the Monks from the leadoff spot. 

Norwich got two hits each from Olivia Bussiere (Northfield, Vt.) and Makenna Wade (Pensacola, Fla.), but it wasn't enough. Sophomore centerfielder Naomi Rinaldo (Middlefield, Conn.) also added a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it was too little too late after the Monks scored three in the top of the seventh to stretch the lead to 6-2. 

Sophomore pitcher Rachel Johnson (Stockbridge, Vt.) had 10 strikeouts, but she was dealt her second straight loss to fall to 6-7 on the year. 

Kristal Smith picked up the win in the circle for St. Joseph's (Maine), striking out eight and walking two while giving up two earned runs on nine hits. 

In Game 2, Norwich mustered just five hits off Kylie McFadden and committed four errors to get swept for just the second time this season in GNAC play. 

Wade led the offense with a RBI and Sarah Perry (New Bedford, Mass.) scored the lone run for the Cadets in the bottom of the first. 

Tripp went 3-for-4 at the plate for Saint Joseph's (Maine), with a run scored. Elliott went 2-for-3 with a RBI and Bailey added a hit with a RBI as well for the Monks. 

Sophomore pitcher Emily Oliver (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) surrendered just one earned run on nine hits and two walks while striking out four to fall to 2-10 on the year. 

Norwich remains seventh in the GNAC standings, but is now four losses behind Suffolk in the loss column for the sixth playoff spot that would clinch a home GNAC First Round playoff game.