Northfield, VT - The Lyndon State College women's softball team ran into the hot bats of Norwich University on Thursday and the result was a doubleheader sweep by the host Cadets.  Norwich took the opener, 15-5, and followed up with a 28-6 win in the nightcap, improving to 4-4 on the season in the process.  The Hornets fell to 0-4 on the campaign.

Game 1 - Norwich 15, Lyndon 5 (5 innings)

After the Hornets' Hannah Choiniere (Highgate, VT) was stranded following delivering a two-out single in the top of the first, Norwich promptly took control of the opener with nine runs in the bottom half of the inning.  The Cadets delivered six hits and took advantage of three Hornet errors in the inning.  Olivia Bussiere (Northfield, VT) delivered the biggest hit of the rally, a bases loaded single that drove in two.

Norwich tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second.  The Cadets' Katie Reid (Gold Canyon, AZ) lined a two-run double, then came around to score herself.

The Hornet bats came alive in the top of the third inning.  Makayla Epps (Foxboro, MA) led off with a walk, moved to second on Alexis Britch's (Essex Junction, VT) sacrifice bunt, and came around to score on a Kiya DeWitt (Pittsburg, NH) triple.  Elizabeth Towsley (Fletcher, VT) then reached on an error, driving in DeWitt.  Choiniere then singled, and she and Towsley advanced a base on a passed ball.  Charlotte Winslow (Pittsford, VT) then grounded into a fielder's choice, but a Norwich throwing error allowed both Towsley and Choiniere to score, cutting the Norwich lead to 12-4.

Norwich scored three unearned insurance runsin the bottom of the fourth inning, capitalizing on three Hornet errors.

In the top of the fifth, Towsley delivered a one out single.  After Choiniere reached on an error, Madeline DeGroot (Canton, ME) drove a ground rule double, scoring Towsley.  However, Norwich's Jenna Sprague (Brookfield, VT) struck out Cassie Black (Tolland, CT) to end the threat and the game.

Emily Oliver (Sagamore Hills, OH) gave up three hits and struck out seven over four innings to get the win for Norwich.  DeWitt went the distance for the Hornets and took the loss, yielding eight earned runs while striking out two and walking four.

Game 2 - Norwich 28, Lyndon 6 (5 innings)

Norwich again started quickly in the nightcap.  The hosts pounded out 11 hits and plated 11 runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Naomi Rinaldo (Middlefield, CT) and Oliiver each produced two hits in the inning and Elizabeth Niven (Londonberry, NH) had a bases clearing triple in the rally.

The Cadets put the game away with six more runs in the bottom of the second.  Reid led off the inning by going yard for a home run.  Three Cadet doubles and two Hornet errors produced five more runs in the inning.

Lyndon got on the board in the top of the third.  Sophie Martineau (Northampton, MA) led off the inning with a single to right.  After DeWitt reached on an error, Choiniere drove in Martineau.  DeGroot followed with a two run single, scoring DeWitt and Martineau.

Norwich added on nine more runs in the bottom of the third on eight hits and three Hornet errors.  Lyndon also priduced three unearned runs in the top of the fourth, with DeGroot delivering an rbi double in the process.  Norwich then strung together three extra base hits in the bottom half of the fourth to complete the scoring.

Sarah Perry (New Bedford, MA) went three innings to pick up the win for Norwich.  Amber Roberts (Berlin, NH) went the distance in taking the loss.

Lyndon returns to action next Tuesday with a 3:00 pm doubleheader at Newbury College.  Norwich travels to St. Joseph's (ME) College on Saturday.