NEWTON, Mass. — The Norwich University softball team returned to action on Saturday afternoon, splitting a cross-divisional Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader at Lasell. The Cadets took game one, 5-0, before falling 5-4 in the nightcap. During the twin bill,
Madison DeCota (Strafford, N.H.) became the latest member of Norwich's 100-hit club.
Game 1: Norwich 5, Lasell 0
The opener featured a scoreless pitcher's duel early, as DeCota and Lasell's Shyanne Raccio traded zeros through the first four innings.
Norwich broke through in the fifth inning.
Delia Mannion (Ramsey, N.J.) was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to third on a
Jessica Zalucki (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) single.
Charlii Carbajal Sanchez (Broomfield, Colo.) brought Mannion home with a sacrifice fly before DeCota followed with an RBI triple to right field to score Zalucki.
Courtney Thomas (Strafford, N.H.) capped the inning with an RBI double to extend the lead.
The Cadets added insurance in the seventh inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single from
Ellie Laroche (Essex, Vt.).
DeCota reached a career milestone in the inning, recording her 100th career hit on a double.
Laroche led the offense, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while DeCota finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, a double, and a triple. Thomas added a double and an RBI.
Game 2: Lasell 5, Norwich 4
Lasell jumped out to an early 3-0 lead through the first two innings before Norwich rallied back.
The Cadets got on the board in the third inning when DeCota drove in Zalucki with an RBI double. Two batters later, Laroche added an RBI single to score DeCota and cut the deficit to one.
Norwich tied the game in the fourth as Zalucki delivered an RBI single to bring home
Josephine Whitney (Holbrook, Mass.).
The Lasers regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning, but Norwich answered again in the fifth.
Emily Munson (Angleton, Texas) doubled and later drove in DeCota to even the score at 4-4.
Lasell responded once more with a run in the bottom of the fifth, and the Cadets were unable to find the equalizer late.
Zalucki led Norwich at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3. DeCota added a double with two runs scored and an RBI, while Munson finished 2-for-4 with a double.
Norwich returns to GNAC North Division play on Sunday, hosting New England College for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
