NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University softball team's offense exploded in a big way on Thursday as the Cadets swept in-state foe Lyndon State at Sabine Field. 

Norwich (4-4, 2-2 GNAC) scored 43 runs and pounded out 38 hits between the two games as they extended their winning streak to four straight games and remained unbeaten at home this year. 

Junior Naomi Rinaldo (Middlefield, Conn.) had a monster day at the plate, going 6-for-8 with nine RBIs and six runs scored to lead the offense. 

Junior Emily Oliver (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) went 5-for-7 with four RBis and four runs scored, while sophomore Katie Reid (Gold Canyon, Ariz.) was 5-for-5 with six runs scored, four RBI and a home run. 

Oliver also picked up a victory in the circle for Game 1, going four innings and striking out seven while giving up one earned run to improve to 2-2 on the year. 

Freshman Elizabeth Niven (Londonderry, N.H.) had a big game in Game 2 coming on to replace junior Madison Miller (Long Lake, N.Y.) who was injured in the first game. Niven went 3-for-5 in Game 2 with five RBIs and two runs scored to tie Rinaldo for the RBI lead in the game. 

In Game 2, Sarah Perry (New Bedford, Mass.) went 4-for-5 with four runs and two RBIs, while sophomore Makenna Wade (Pensacola, Fla.) went 3-for-5 with four RBIs. 

Perry picked up the win on the mound in Game 2, going three innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs. She improved to 2-2 on the year. Freshman Jenna Sprague (Brookfield, Conn.) came on in relief in both games, throwing a combined three innings, giving up no earned runs and striking out four. 

Norwich jumped all over Lyndon State in the bottom of the first inning in each game, scoring nine runs in Game 1 and 11 in Game 2 to take full control early. 

Norwich's 28 runs were the most runs scored in a game since scoring 38 in the 2011 season vs. Albertus Magnus. 

Norwich improved to 27-25 in the all-time series with Lyndon State and have now won six straight vs. the Hornets. The Cadets also improved to 5-1 all-time on the Sabine Field turf. 

NU will return to GNAC action on Saturday when it travels to St. Joseph's (Maine). The Cadets will then return home to host Suffolk University on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.