NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University softball team's playoff hopes took a hit on Sunday after getting swept by Anna Maria College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at the NU Softball Field. 

Norwich (8-10, 1-5 GNAC) led 4-1 heading to the top of the sixth inning in Game 1, but the cadets surrendered four runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh to fall 10-4. Anna Maria (10-16, 4-6 GNAC) used a six-run top of the sixth inning to take the nightcap 7-1 and secure a huge series sweep. 

Defensive miscues plagued Norwich in the later innings in the first game with seven fielding errors causing seven unearned runs to cross the plate. Sophomore Annika Beebe (Marianna, Fla.) threw five innings, scattering eight hits and striking out three before coming out in the sixth inning for Kennedy White (Randolph Center, Vt.). 

Senior Maggie Rasmussen (Kingston, N.H.) had a big two-run single in the bottom of the third inning to score Nicole Perault (Nashua, N.H.) and Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) and give the Cadets a 2-1 lead. Norwich added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth with McGinn singling home Laura Deaton (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Rachel Kempf (Warwick, R.I.) doubling home McGinn to stake the Cadets to a 4-1 lead. 

McGinn started Game 2 and fired five strong innings before tiring in the sixth. Julia Vawter (Pelham, N.H.) picked up the lone RBI with a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt to score Beebe from third base in the third inning to tie the game up at 1-1. 

Norwich will look to get back on track next weekend when it hosts Simmons University at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday at the NU Softball Field. The Cadets will also look to make up their postponed doubleheader at Saint Joseph's (Maine) this upcoming week as well.