NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Freshman Mollie Verreault (Scarborough, Maine) went yard twice in leading the Assumption University softball team to a 6-5 victory over Southern Connecticut State in the first game of the opening Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader for both schools on Saturday afternoon at Pelz Field. The Owls recovered to win the second game by a 2-0 decision to earn the split.

Game One: Assumption 6, Southern Connecticut State 5

In the opening game of the day, Assumption jumped on Owl pitcher Jessica Perucki early by scoring four runs in the top of the first and never trailed. Sophomore Corin Mahan (Abington, Mass.) blasted an RBI double to left center and came home on a single off the bat of classmate Summer Sheerin (Bridgewater, Mass.). Verreault then hit a two-run homer to put the Greyhounds in control before the Owls had a chance to bat.

Southern Connecticut State (5-7, NE10 1-1), however, quickly fought back by plating two runs in the bottom of the first and another in the third to pull within one. Jacqueline Dumont scored twice, which was capped by coming home on a Jessica Peru double to left field.

The two continued to trade runs with the Greyhounds holding a slim lead as the game progressed. However, it was an RBI single by senior Allison Ainley (Rehoboth, Mass.) in the top of the seventh that proved to be the difference. Although Dumont brought the Owls within a run again in the host school's last opportunity to generate offense, Greyhound senior pitcher Erin Barry (Braintree, Mass.) got out of trouble and ended the game by inducing a flyout to left.

Barry picked up the win for Assumption and improved to 4-5 after recording six strikeouts and going the distance. She allowed three earned runs and six hits. Perucki was tagged with the loss and dropped to 3-2 for giving up eight hits and six runs, which were all earned, and issuing three walks.

Game Two: Southern Connecticut State 2, Assumption 0

Southern Connecticut State recovered to win a pitcher's duel in the nightcap thanks to a strong fourth inning. Morgan Tusca first hit a sacrifice fly to right which plated Katrina Roy, and Liz ReRosa doubled the margin by singling home Julianna Corbett.

Assumption, which left two runners on base in the top of the fourth, tried to rally again by putting itself in the same position in the top of the fifth thanks to a walk generated by freshman Alicia Habib (Haverhill, Mass.) along with a single through the right side by junior Jordan Dwyer (Coventry, R.I.). But the Greyhounds were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, as the next two batters fouled out to third base and grounded out to Dominique DeLutri at short.

Jazmyn Martinez, who retired the last eight batters she faced, earned the shutout win in the circle for Southern Connecticut State. She struck out nine, only issued one walk, and allowed five hits. Freshman Anna Tassone (Gardner, Mass.) suffered the setback for Assumption despite giving up just six hits and two runs which were earned.

Assumption (4-15, NE10 1-1) returns to Connecticut tomorrow to face New Haven for a twinbill beginning at noon.