NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College softball team continued its winning ways as the Falcons extended its streak to 22 straight games following Saturday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader sweep against the Cadets of Norwich University. The Falcons cruised to a 14-4 victory in game one before shutting out the Cadets in the nightcap, 10-0.

Senior Jess Stettinger (East Haven, Conn.) recorded another stellar day at the plate for the Falcons as the utility player went 4-for-6 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored, and a team-high six RBIs. Fellow teammate Madison LaBossiere (Griswold, Conn.) also recorded a strong showing at the plate going 4-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI.

THE BASICS
FINAL (G1): Albertus Magnus 14  | Norwich 4 (5 innings)
FINAL (G2): Albertus Magnus 10  | Norwich 0 (5 innings)
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (26-6, 12-0 GNAC) | Norwich (8-18, 1-11 GNAC)
LOCATION: Shea Softball Field

HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 1

Albertus opened the doubleheader scoring a lone run in the bottom of the first to take the early lead over the Cadets. Despite two outs on the board, Stettinger connected on a pitch that sent the ball to deep left-center allowing Peyton Davis (North Haven, Conn.) to score from first after she reached base on a fielder's choice. 

An inning later, Albertus increased its lead to seven, 7-0, following a six-run inning that was highlighted by a pair of doubles from Ivy Geloso (Beacon Falls, Conn.) and Davis, as well as a single from Kayla Resto (Shelton, Conn.).

Norwich, however, broke its scoreless drought in the top of the third as Laura Deaton drove in two runs behind a triple to center field to cut the deficit to within five, 7-2. Albertus countered the Cadets' two-run inning with another six runs of its own in the bottom of the third to increase the lead to 13-2. 

The Falcons remained hot at the plate as Franklin drove in the 14th run of the game in the bottom of the fourth behind an RBI single to right-center.

Norwich's attempt at a comeback was cut short as the visitors were held to just two runs in the top of the fifth, bringing the final score to 14-4. 

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Erin Dighello (Wallingford, Conn.) (W, 14,3) - 4.0 Innings | 4 Hits | 2 Runs | 0 Walks | 2 Strikeouts 
• LP: Allison Northup (L, 2-3) - 2.1 innings | 13 Hits | 13 Runs | 2 Walks | 1 Strikeout
• Ema Signore (Guilford, Conn.) made her 14th appearance in the circle for the blue-and-white. 
• Franklin led the Falcons' attack with three hits to go along with two runs scored and an RBI.
• Geloso posted a team-leading four RBIs behind a pair of doubles. 

HOW IT HAPPENED - Game 2

After back-to-back scoreless innings, bats came alive for the Falcons in the bottom of the third as the hosts scored five runs off six hits to take the 5-0 lead. Albertus capitalized on a Cadet pitching change by scoring two quick runs following an RBI triple from Colleen Edwards (Clinton, Conn.) and an RBI single from Stettinger. With one out and runners on the corners, LaBossiere allowed Stettinger to score from third, while Erin Molkenthin (East Haddam, Conn.) scored off an error by the left fielder. Prior to the next Falcon at-bat, Norwich made another pitching change that led to Angelina Ramada (North Branford, Conn.) hitting an RBI single to the outfield that allowed LaBossiere to score for the fifth and final run of the inning.

Albertus put the game out of reach for the Cadets as the blue-and-white extended its lead to 10-0 after recording a five-run inning in the bottom of the fourth. The frame was highlighted by a Stettinger home run that drove in a trio of runs, and a two-RBI single from Breanna Saldivar (Middletown, Conn.). 

TOP PERFORMERS

• WP: Skylar Arent (New Fairfield, Conn.) (W, 11-2) - 5.0 Innings | 2 Hits | 0 Runs | 0 Walks | 4 Strikeouts 
• LP: Julia Vawter (L 0-1) - 0.1 Innings | 5 Hits | 5 Runs | 0 Walks | 0 Strikeouts
• Arent threw her eighth complete game of the season.
• Arent collected her fourth shutout of the season. 
• Stettinger, LaBossiere, and Saldivar finished game two with two hits each.
• Stettingers' four RBIs were a season-high. 
• Saldivar tied her season-high in RBIs with two. 

NOTEWORTHY

• This is the 43rd and 44th meeting between the Falcons and Cadets.
• Albertus is now 15-29 all-time against the Cadets.
• The Falcons recorded a season-high in runs scored with 14 and stolen bases with eight.
• Albertus' 10-0 shutout in game two was its 10th of the season as well as the fifth conference shutout.
• Stettingers' home run in game two was her fifth of the year, which ranks her first on the team in this statistical category. 
• Albertus had 13 players registered at least a hit in the doubleheader sweep, while eight of those recorded two or more hits.

UP NEXT

The softball team returns to the diamond on Sunday, April 24 with a home conference doubleheader against the Raiders of Rivier University. Game times are set for 1 PM and 3 PM at the Shea Softball Field.

Prior to the doubleheader, the Albertus Magnus softball team will be honoring its five-member senior class - Ivy Geloso, Kayla Resto, Madison LaBossiere, Jess Stettinger, and Erin Dighello - for their hard work and dedication to the program over their tenure with the Falcons.