PAXTON, Mass.- The Norwich Softball team resumed Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division play Monday afternoon when they paid a visit to Anna Maria, where the two teams achieved a split, with the Cadets resoundingly taking the opener.

The onslaught began early in game one, with Norwich bringing home two runs. Hailey Williams (Tamaqua, Pa.) led off the game with a walk and made her way to third on a Madison DeCota (Strafford, N.H.) single. After DeCota swiped second, she and Williams came home on an RBI single by Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) to open the scoring.
In the third, DeCota brought home Williams on a fielder's choice to extend the lead to three. Two innings later, the Cadets added to their lead with two more runs. Williams drew another lead-off free pass before being doubled home by DeCota. Later in the inning, DeCota came home on an RBI single by Courtney Thomas (Strafford, N.H.) to make it a five-run game.

In the sixth, the Cadets blew the doors off the contest, scoring six runs to bring game one to an early conclusion. With runners on second and third with one down, Adelette Gutierrez (Cameron, N.C.) drew a walk with Kelcie Petrone (Redding, Conn.) coming home on a passed ball. DeCota drew a hit-by-pitch to load the bases for McGinn, who plated Williams and Gutierrez with a two-run single. Next hitter, Emily Munson (Angleton, Texas), hit a three-run home run, the first of her collegiate career, bringing the score to its final margin of 11-0.

In the stat column, Williams (1-1, 4 Runs, 2 Walks, Double), DeCota (2-3, 3 Runs, 2 RBI, Double, 2 Stolen Bases), McGinn (2-3, 4 RBI), and Munson (1-2, 1 R, 3 RBI, Home Run) led the way. DeCota also starred in the circle, notching a complete game shutout, only allowing four AMCAT hits.

Looking to continue their momentum, Norwich scored early in game two with DeCota doubling home Williams in the first. Anna Maria answered in the home half with their first run of the day and added one more in the second to take the lead.

The two sides were caught in a one-run stalemate until the sixth, where the Cadets regained the lead. With the bags full and no one out, DeCota came home on a passed ball to tie the game. Later in the at-bat, Thomas brought home McGinn with a sacrifice fly to put Norwich ahead. However, the lead did not last as the AMCATs tied the game on a two-out error before taking a three-run lead, which they would lock down in the seventh.

Several Cadets notched multiple hits, including Williams (2-4, Run), DeCota (2-3, Run, RBI, Double), and Munson (2-3).

Norwich will continue GNAC North play when they visit Simmons for a twin bill Wednesday night, April 23, at 5 PM.