LYNDONVILLE, Vt. - The Norwich University softball team erupted for one of the most prolific offensive days in program history on Wednesday afternoon, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader from Vermont State University Lyndon at the Skip Pound Complex by scores of 45-11 and 17-4. Both games were shortened by mercy rule.
The Cadets piled up 55 hits across the twin bill, including a staggering 35-hit outburst in the opener, while setting multiple program records and posting one of the highest-scoring single-game performances in NCAA Division III softball history.
Game 1: Norwich 45, VTSU Lyndon 11 (5 innings)
Norwich wasted no time overwhelming the Hornets, breaking the game open with a 12-run first inning and then sending 27 batters to the plate during an 18-run second frame.
Jessica Zalucki (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) opened the scoring by coming home on a
Madison DeCota (Strafford, N.H.) triple to left, before
Courtney Thomas (Strafford, N.H.) launched a two-run homer to quickly make it 3-0.
Delia Mannion (Ramsey, N.J.) followed with a two-run double,
Josephine Whitney (Holbrook, Mass.) added an RBI single, and Norwich continued to pour on from there, eventually carrying a 12-0 lead out of the opening inning.
The Cadets added 18 more runs in the second, capitalizing on timely hitting and Lyndon miscues to stretch the margin to 30-0. Thomas delivered three RBI doubles over the first two innings alone, while Zalucki, DeCota,
Ellie Laroche (Essex, Vt.),
Emily Munson (Angleton, Texas), Whitney,
Abbigale Williams (Andover, Vt.), and
Charlii Carbajal Sanchez (Broomfield, Colo.) all contributed to the relentless surge.
VTSU Lyndon answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, but Norwich responded with another 15-run fourth inning to put the contest completely out of reach. The Cadets scored five times before recording an out in the frame, highlighted by RBI doubles from Whitney, Zalucki, DeCota, and Carbajal Sanchez, along with run-scoring singles from Thomas,
Emma Thompson (Westminster, Vt.), Munson, and
Grace Richardson (Phoenix, Ariz.).
The Hornets pushed across eight runs in the bottom of the fourth, but the outcome had long since been decided as Norwich closed out the 45-11 victory.
The opener was historic on multiple fronts. Norwich's 45 runs established a new program record, breaking the previous mark of 43 set against Southern Vermont College in 2002. The Cadets also set a new program record with 13 doubles, surpassing the previous mark of eight set at Lyndon in 2010, while their 36 RBIs tied the school record originally set in 2011 at Albertus Magnus College. Norwich's 61 at-bats also set a new program record.
The game also cracked the NCAA Division III record book, as Norwich's 13 doubles rank as the second-most in a game in Division III history, 35 hits are tied for the fourth-most, 36 RBIs are the fifth-most, 45 runs are the sixth-most, 18 runs in the first inning are tied for the 11th-most, and 61 at-bats are tied for the 12th-most.
Individually, Thomas tied the program single-game record with six hits, matched the school record with three doubles, and set a new Norwich single-game record with nine RBIs. Thomas and DeCota also each logged eight at-bats, breaking the previous program mark of seven.
Thomas finished the opener 6-for-8 with a home run, three doubles, nine RBIs, and six runs scored. Zalucki went 5-for-7 with four RBIs and six runs, Carbajal Sanchez added four hits and three RBIs, DeCota scored six times and drove in four, Munson collected four hits and three RBIs, and Laroche, Whitney, and Vitale all added multi-hit efforts.
In the circle, DeCota earned her ninth win of the season, working 3.2 innings and striking out five. Zalucki closed out the final 1.1 innings.
Game 2: Norwich 17, VTSU Lyndon 4 (5 innings)
Norwich again came out swinging in the nightcap, this time building an early 4-0 lead in the opening inning.
Laroche started the scoring with an RBI double to center that brought home Zalucki, before Munson followed with an RBI groundout. Whitney added a sacrifice fly, and Mannion later reached on an error that allowed Williams to score and stretch the Cadet lead to four.
VTSU Lyndon answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first, but Norwich quickly reasserted control in the second. Laroche delivered another RBI single, Carbajal Sanchez stole home, Whitney added a run-scoring single, and Thompson lifted a sacrifice fly as the Cadets extended the advantage to 8-2.
Norwich kept the pressure on in the third. Carbajal Sanchez produced an RBI groundout, and
Brianna Vitale (Rock Tavern, N.Y.) followed with a run-scoring single to make it 10-2. The Hornets scratched one run back in the bottom half, but the Cadets answered with a seven-run fourth inning to put the game away.
The big frame featured an error that allowed Richardson to race all the way to third while
Emma Thompson scored, followed by an RBI single from Carbajal Sanchez. Vitale then broke the game open with a three-run double, while Williams and Thompson each added RBI singles to cap the 17-4 final.
Norwich pounded out 20 hits in the nightcap, led by Laroche's 4-for-5 effort with two RBIs and four runs scored. Carbajal Sanchez finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs, while Vitale drove in four runs on a 2-for-2 showing. Williams added two hits and an RBI, and DeCota, Thomas, Thompson, Whitney, and Mannion all contributed to the balanced offensive outburst.
Mannion earned the win in the circle after allowing three runs over three innings with five strikeouts, while Carbajal Sanchez worked the final two innings and surrendered just one run to close out the sweep.
Norwich returns to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play in its next outing, traveling to Emmanuel College for a league doubleheader at Roberto Clemente Field in Boston, Mass. Game times are set for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
