THE BASICS:
-Score Game 1: Assumption 6, Southern New Hampshire 4
-Score Game 2: Assumption 7, Southern New Hampshire 14
-Records: Assumption (9-19, 6-9), Southern New Hampshire 16-7, 8-3 NE-10)
-Location: Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Softball Field)
-The Lead: The Assumption College softball team topped No. 25 nationally-ranked Southern New Hampshire in game one of the teams' doubleheader in Manchester, N.H. on Saturday on the backs of home runs by junior Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H. / Bedford) and senior Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass. / Fairhaven). The Hounds claimed a 6-4 victory in game one before falling 14-7 in game two.
Because Saturday's doubleheader was a make up that was originally scheduled to be played at Assumption, the Hounds were the designated "home" team in both games.
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME 1
-Southern New Hampshire got out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Lindsey Bolduc homered over the left field fence to score Mo Hannan, who had led off with a single through the left side.
-Assumption responded in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead. Junior Cassidy Colby (Charlton, Mass. / Shepherd Hill Regional) singled through the left side with just one out and was followed by freshman Caitlin Mirabell (Shoreham, N.Y. / Shoreham-Wading River), who singled to right to advance Colby to third with two outs.
-With two runners on base, Abad stepped to the plate to blast a home run to right center, scoring Colby and Mirabell.
-The Hounds increased their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Colby doubled to score junior Cassie Schultz (Amesbury, Mass. / Amesbury), who had walked.
-In the bottom of the fifth Moniz belted a two-run homer to left field with just one out to make it 6-2 Hounds.
-Assumption kept the four-run lead until the top of the seventh when SNHU posted two more runs on four hits in the bottom of the seventh for the 6-4 final
INSIDE THE NUMBERS - GAME 1
-Offensively, Abad and Moniz led the Hounds with two hits apiece and a total of five RBI.
-Southern New Hampshire outhit the Hounds 13-9 and left 11 runners on base compared to just four for Assumption.
-Four Hounds posted extra-base hits on the day including Colby, Abad, Moniz and sophomore Nicole Duplease (Leominster, Mass. / Leominster).
-Sophomore Kendal Roy (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton) claims the win for the Hounds and improves to 8-5 on the season. She allowed just four runs in 7.0 innings while striking out two batters and giving up 13 hits.
-Nicole Gubellini takes the loss for SNHU after pitchinig 4.1 innings. She allowed eight hits, including both homers, six runs and struck out four.
HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME 2
-Assumption took the lead early in game two, putting up three on the nationally-ranked Penmen in the bottom of the first. Moniz scored Mirabell on a sacrifice fly before Abad scored on a wild pitch with one out to take a 2-0 lead.
-With two outs in the bottom of the first, senior Christina Caira (Newton, Mass. / Newton North) doubled to right field to score Menard, who had reached on a walk.
-Southern New Hampshire tied it in the top of the third on a two-out rally. Erin Garczynski homered to left field before two Hound errors plated two more runs, 3-3.
-The Hounds reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third when Caira singled with two outs to score sophomore Marissa Gifford (North Attleboro, Mass. / North Attleboro), who pinch ran for Menard. Menard reached base on a walk with one out, 4-3 Hounds.
-In the top of the fourth, SNHU took its first lead of the game, 5-4, when Katie Caruso singled through the left side to drive in two runs.
-Moniz responded with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the frame to take the lead again, 6-5. Moniz scored Mirabell and Clark who had both singled.
-In the top of the fifth, SNHU notched two more for a 7-6 advantage when Bolduc singled to center field to score Hannan and Kalley March. March pinch ran for Sarah Lavallee, who had singled, and Hannan also singled to reach base
-Assumption scored once more in the bottom of the fifth to tie it 7-7. Colby singled to center field to score Caira, who had reached base on a fielder's choice.
-With the game deadlocked heading into the top of the sixth, SNHU rallied for six runs on seven hits to run away with the game.
-The Penmen added one more in the top of the seventh for the 14-7 final.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS - GAME 2
-The Penmen ended up tallying 20 hits compared to 10 for the Hounds.
-Assumption's offense was led by Duplease and Caira who each posted two hits on the day, as well as Moniz who drove in three runs. Caira also plated two RBI.
-Two Hounds doubled in game two including Caira and freshman Victoria Petrie (Marlborough, Mass. / Marlborough).
-Junior Jurnee Serating-Ware (Hudson, Mass. / Hudson) started in the circle for the Hounds in game two. She pitched 3.1 innings and allowed eight hits and five runs, only three of which were earned.
-Serating-Ware was replaced by senior Jess Underwood (Hudson, N.H. / Alvirne) in the top of the fourth and allowed four runs on six hits before junior Nicole Harvey (South Berwick, Maine / Marshwood) entered the game in the top of the sixth. Harvey allowed five more runs, just two earned, in 1.1 innings.
-Underwood takes the loss for the Hounds while Stephanie Martin earns the win for SNHU. Martin improves to 2-0 after pitching the final 3.0 innings and allowing just one run on three hits.
UP NEXT:
-The Hounds are scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, April 13 as they host Bentley at Marois Field in a doubleheader at 3 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.
-Fans can also sign up for email updates and text message alerts for the women's softball team and all of the other 23 Assumption varsity sports by clicking here.
