Worcester, Mass. (April 11) -- Assumption had its eight-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday afternoon as No. 18 ranked Southern Connecticut swept the Hounds by finals of 5-4 in nine innings and 10-4 in five innings in a game called due to darkness. The wins snap an overall eight-game winning streak over the Owls in Worcester dating back to the 2002 season.

In game one, the Hounds jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second as Kolby Davenport (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack) singled to left to score freshman Jess DiPilato (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) with the game's first run. The Owls answered back in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff home run by Kristin Whitley to tie the game at 1-1. Southern Connecticut was the home team in each game of the doubleheader.

Brittany Bucko put the Owls in front for the first time in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run shot to left before Assumption responded in the following frame. In the top of the sixth, junior Lauren Medeiros (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) led off with a walk, followed by a two-run homer to left by sophomore Nikki Boris (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) to tie the game up at 3-3.

The score remained that way until the ninth when the Hounds regained the edge at 4-3 on an RBI single by Medeiros that scored pinch runner Paige Licata (Revere, Mass./Revere). Southern Connecticut took advantage of the bottom of the inning though and with one out and one on, Bucko launched her second homer of the game and 12th of the season to walk away with the 5-4 victory.

Senior Jennifer Lowrey (Assonet, Mass./Apponequet) took the loss for the Hounds, going 8.1 innings while allowing five runs on nine hits with nine strikeouts and two walks as she fell to 9-5. Jayme Larson picked up the win for the Owls, throwing three innings of two-hit relief to improve to 14-2 on the season.

DiPilato went 3-for-4 in game one, along with a 2-for-4 showing by Medeiros. Davenport also reached base three times in the game, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.

In the second game, the Hounds jumped out a 3-0 lead with one out in the top of the first as Boris hit her second home run of the day and fifth of the season. The three-run shot scored Medeiros and sophomore Tanya Robidoux (Hooksett, N.H./Manchester Central). Southern Connecticut put up three runs in the bottom of the inning though, led by a two-RBI triple by Whitley. After a single run in the third put the Owls ahead 4-3, the visitors put together a five-hit, six-run fourth inning that put the game out of reach at 10-3. Leading the offensive outburst was a three-run homer to right from catcher Stacy Pouliot and a two-run shot by Nicole Buch.

Sophomore Jenn Lattal (Windsor, Conn./Windsor) fell to 7-3 with the loss, giving up 10 hits and 10 runs over five innings of play. Larson picked up the win for the Owls, improving to 15-2 as she scattered seven hits with two earned runs over five innings.

Boris finished game two 2-for-3 with four runs batted in, along with a 2-for-3 showing from junior Melissa Jalbert (Gardner, Mass./Gardner).

With the losses, Assumption slips to 20-11 overall and 13-5 in Northeast-10 play, while Southern Connecticut improves to 29-5 overall and 17-3 in the league. The Owls now sit alone in first place in the league standings, while the Hounds own sole possession of second place.

The Hounds continue a 10-game homestand on Thursday afternoon as Saint Anselm visits Marois Field for a Northeast-10 doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.