NORTHFIELD, Vt.- The Norwich Softball team continued Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with an inter-division matchup with Dean College Saturday afternoon, where the two sides achieved a split.

The Cadets were off and running in the opener, with Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) shooting the right center field gap for a leadoff triple in the home half of the second for Norwich's first hit of the contest. The following batter, Emily Munson (Angleton, Texas), found the same gap to bring McGinn home with an RBI double to break the ice.
After the Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the fourth, the duo of McGinn and Munson struck again with back-to-back two-baggers to return the lead to Norwich. The Cadets added one more in the following frame courtesy of a solo home run by Madison DeCota (Strafford, N.H.), making it a two-run game.

Dean cut the lead to one in the sixth, but DeCota escaped a bases-loaded, no-outs jam to preserve the lead and eventually the win, her first of the season. In a complete game, DeCota allowed two runs on six hits while striking out eleven. Offensively, McGinn (2-2, 2 Runs, double, triple), Munson (2-3, 2 RBI, 2 doubles), and DeCota (1-3, R, RBI, HR) led the way in game one.

McGinn and Munson continued to roll in game two, starting the second inning with back-to-back hits, including a ground rule double by Munson. Courtney Thomas (Strafford, N.H.) brought home McGinn with a sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, after consecutive free passes, Adelette Gutierrez (Cameron, N.C.) brought home Munson and Kennedy White (Randolph Center, Vt.) with a two-out, bases-loaded RBI single to put the Cadets ahead by three.

Dean responded with four runs in the third to take the lead, but Norwich quickly responded with DeCota's second solo home run of the day. The Bulldogs retook the lead by plating two runs in the fourth and an insurance run in the sixth to take home the win in the second contest. Munson led the way offensively (2-3, Run, Double, Triple) while McGinn held down the Bulldogs in relief, striking out four in four innings of work.

Norwich will resume GNAC North play when they travel to Anna Maria Monday afternoon for a twin bill beginning at 2 PM.