FRANKLIN, Mass.- The Norwich softball team continued their road swing as they visited Dean Sunday afternoon for a twin bill.

The Cadets were off and running, taking the lead in the first inning of game one and not looking back. Madison DeCota (Strafford, N.H.) led off the game by reaching on an error, the first of four for the Bulldogs. Eventually, runners would get to second and third for Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) who drove home DeCota with an RBI single to open the scoring. The following batter, Rachel Kempf (Warwick, R.I.), would bring home Liliana Rolfe (Plainville, Mass.) with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to two.

The hit parade continued in the second. A Taylor Farnsworth (Saint Johnsbury, Vt.) single and a Courtney Thomas (Strafford, N.H.) double put two runners in scoring position for DeCota who laced a double down the left field line to plate Farnsworth. Rolfe followed suit by bringing home Thomas and DeCota with a single making it a five-run lead. By the end of the fifth, the lead would become seven with Kempf crossing the plate twice, once on a Julia Vawter (Pelham, N.H.) sacrifice fly, and the other on a Brianna Vitale (Rock Tavern, N.Y.) single.

Dean closed the gap to four by the seventh, but Norwich would answer. After a one out single by Rolfe, McGinn hit a two-run shot over the left field wall. Afterwards, Kempf would double and come home on a Kelcie Petrone (Redding, Conn.) single to reach the final margin of 10-3, in a game where seven of Norwich's starting nine recorded multi hit games including a perfect three for three by Kempf and Rolfe going three for five. In the circle, DeCota tamed the Bulldogs allowing one earned run and went the distance.
Kempf's hot day continued in game two. She picked up where she left off with a two out, two run single to put the Cadets ahead in the first. Dean would answer, taking the lead in the second and eventually stretching it to six runs. Norwich chipped away at the deficit with Vitale scoring in the fourth and driving home McGinn in the fifth to make it a two-run game, while McGinn held the fort on the defensive side.

In the sixth, the Cadets would close the gap and tie the contest. In consecutive at bats, DeCota singled and would come home on a Rolfe double. After taking third on a wild pitch, Rolfe came home on a McGinn sacrifice fly to draw even. The Bulldogs regained the lead in the sixth but were unable to lock down the Cadets in the final frame. To start, Kennedy White (Randolph Center, Vt.) doubled and came home on a single in the ensuing at bat by Vitale. A sacrifice bunt and a walk would turn the lineup over to DeCota who doubled in Vitale to give Norwich their first lead of the game since the first inning. DeCota would retire the side to earn her second win of the day and clinch the sweep while also going three for five at the dish with two RBI with other offensive contributions from Kempf (3 for 4), McGinn (2 for 3 2 Runs Scored, RBI), and Vitale (3 for 3, 2 RBI, 2 Runs Scored).

On deck for Norwich, they will return to their home field for a doubleheader with New England College on Apr 17 at 3 PM.