The Albertus Magnus softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader with Norwich University on Thursday night at the Rivier University Softball Field in Nashua, N.H.
With a win in game one and a loss in game two, the Falcons move to 10-9 overall on the year and 3-5 in conference play. Norwich moves to 12-10 on the year with the split and 7-5 in league action.
Game 1:
After trailing 3-1 after two innings, Albertus went on to score seven unanswered runs to take an 8-3 victory in game one of the doubleheader.
The Falcons got on the scoreboard early with one run in the opening inning. Junior Britney Urciuoli (Newington, Conn.) singled to reach base before getting into scoring position on a passed ball. She then scored on a Devon DeLallo (Redding, Conn.) RBI single.
Norwich plated two runs in the first and one in the second thanks to a solo home run by Kelly Travers, a walked batter and an RBI single by Abby Belcher.
Albertus answered in the top of the fourth inning as DeLallo led off the frame with a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Carli Matrisian (Milford, Conn.) put runners on the corners with a single before a sacrifice bunt by Elaina Maio (West Haven, Conn.) and a fielding error allowed DeLallo to score from third. A groundout by sophomore Alyssa Puccilli (Milford, Conn.) plated the Falcons' second run of the inning to tie the contest at three.
The Falcons scored two more runs in the fifth inning thanks to a passed ball and an RBI groundout by Matrisian. Jessica Seaver (North Haven, Conn.) led off the frame with a walk before moving to third on a walk and a Norwich error. She later scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run on a passed ball.
Albertus secured the victory with three more runs in the top of the seventh, all coming with two outs on the board. DeLallo continued her stellar performance with a two-out single before an error and a walk loaded the bases. A Veronica Hribko (East Haven, Conn.) single scored two Falcons before an RBI single from Puccilli capped the Falcons' scoring drive.
Brianna Longley (Milford, Conn.) picked up the victory for the Falcons as she struck out three and walked two batters in the win. She threw all seven innings and allowed three runs on 10 hits. After giving up seven hits in the first three innings, she settled down and gave up just three singles in the final three innings.
Norwich's Taylor Morris took the loss for the Cadets as she gave up five runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Game 2:
Norwich responded in game two by taking a 6-2 GNAC win over the Falcons thanks to a four-run third inning led by a three-run home run by Abby Belcher.
The Falcons struck first, scoring two runs in the top of the third inning. Two Norwich errors with two outs on the board allowed both Falcon runs to cross home plate to give Albertus the 2-0 lead. Norwich rallied and scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning as a single and an Albertus error put two runners on for Belcher. Belcher then connected for her team-leading fifth home run of the season to allow the Cadets to take a 3-2 lead. A single and three-straight walks added another run to Norwich's total as they took a 4-2 lead after three innings of play.
Norwich added two more runs in the fifth and held Albertus off the scoreboard for the rest of the outing. In the fifth inning, a lead-off double by Belcher followed by some passed balls and wild pitches as well as an error allowed the Cadets to score their final two runs.
Rachel Cataudella (Shelton, Conn.) started on the hill for the Falcons as she went 4.1 innings, allowing six runs on five hits. She walked five batters and struck out two. Longley threw the final 1.2 innings and gave up just two hits, while striking out two.
Corinne Baita earned the win for the Cadets as she struck out four batters and allowed eight hits in seven innings of work.
Albertus will host Emmanuel College on Friday night in a GNAC doubleheader at West Haven High School in West Haven, Conn. The first contest is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m.
