Manchester, N.H. (April 14) -- After dropping a back-and-forth game one by a 14-7 final, Assumption used an 11-strikeout performance from junior pitcher Jennifer Lowrey (Assonet, Mass./Apponequet) in game to earn the split with Southern New Hampshire in a 2-0 victory at Penmen Field. The Greyhounds have now won seven of their last eight and are tied with Merrimack atop the Northeast-10 standings.
Assumption started out game one with four home runs to build to a 7-0 lead after just two innings. In the first, Nicole Boris (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) hit her second three-run homer of the week, followed immediately by a solo home run from senior Amy Gordon (Seekonk, Mass./Bishop Feehan). After sophomore Melissa Jalbert (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) made it a 6-0 game with a two-run shot in the second inning, Lauren Medeiros (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) added a solo shot to right and the Greyhounds held a seemingly comfortable 7-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Penmen scored on an RBI double to right by Kelsea Cheney, but with two outs the Greyhounds were close to ending the inning. After an Assumption fielding error kept the inning alive, the Greyhounds proceeded to strike for nine runs overall in the inning and took a 9-7 advantage. Southern New Hampshire added a pair of runs in the fifth on a two-RBI single from Cheney and three more in the sixth on a three-run homer by Kate Stanley.
Junior Chelsea Durso (Salem, N.H./Salem) took the loss for the Hounds to fall to 8-4 overall. Over 3.1 innings, she allowed nine runs overall, with just one being earned. Dolores Mattice pitching 6.2 innings of relief for Southern New Hampshire in the win, improving to 6-4 on the season.
Game two was a different story as neither team could scratch out a run until the seventh inning when the Greyhounds struck for the only runs of the game. After freshman Tanya Robidoux (Hooksett, N.H./Manchester Central) reached on a one-out fielders choice, Jalbert then reached on a fielding error by the shortstop with one out. Medeiros followed with a single to left that got by the left fielder and nearly rolled to the fence, scoring both Robidoux and Jalbert for the 2-0 lead. Lowrey set down the Penmen in the seventh to pick up the victory. Lowrey is now 5-5 after allowing just three hits over seven innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts. Kelsey Griffin took the loss for the Penmen, dropping to 6-5.
Assumption is now 16-11 overall and 10-4 in the Northeast-10, while the Penmen fall to 12-18 overall and 10-6 in league play. The Greyhounds are back in action on Saturday, April 16th as the team hosts Merrimack for a doubleheader at Marois Field.
