WORCESTER, Mass. – In its first action since March 15, the Southern New Hampshire University softball team, ranked No. 20 in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) Division II Top-25, swept a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with Assumption College at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Saturday by final scores of 15-1 and 5-3. The Penmen improve to 13-3 and 2-0 in league play, while the Greyhounds fall to 10-6 and 2-2 in the NE-10.

Senior Ali Maloof (Norwood, Mass.) struck out 10 and did not issue a walk in five innings of work in game one to improve to 8-0 with her eighth complete game of the season. She allowed just one hit, a solo home run to Kayli Moniz in the top of the fourth, and faced just one batter over the minimum. Offensively, Maloof was 4-for-7 in the twinbill with two home runs, five RBI, and three runs scored.

In the opener, Southern New Hampshire scored multiple runs in each of its four turns at-bat, including home runs in the first three innings to register a season-high 15 runs.

After Maloof struck out a pair in the top of the first, the Penmen responded with two runs in the home half of the inning. Junior Mo Hannan (Scarborough, Maine) led off the frame with an infield single before Maloof launched her second long ball of the year.

In the bottom of the second, Southern New Hampshire pushed across three more runs to extend its lead to five. After freshman Sarah Lavallee (Candia, N.H.) reached on a one-out error, senior Holly Eicher (Stoneham, Mass.) smacked an RBI triple to right to make it 3-0. Two batters later, Hannan blasted the first home run of her career to give the Penmen a 5-0 advantage.

Junior Katie Caruso (Newton, Mass.) opened up the bottom of the third inning with a double and classmate Lindsey Bolduc (Londonderry, N.H.) followed with a walk. After a wild pitch advanced both runners, sophomore Erin Morrissey (Commack, N.Y.) plated Caruso with an RBI groundout. Sophomore Jessica Torsiello (Morris Plains, N.J.) stepped in next and connected on a two-run shot to make it 8-0 in favor of Southern New Hampshire.

In the fourth, Moniz led off the top half with a solo shot before the Penmen exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the frame with the aid of three Assumption errors. Caruso started the inning with a base hit up the middle before a single by Morrissey two batters later put runners on the corners with one out. A walk by Torsiello loaded the bases for Lavallee, and she singled to left to bring in Caruso to give Southern New Hampshire a 9-1 edge. After a fielding miscue allowed two more runs to score, freshman Brittany Perdigao (Stoughton, Mass.) sent a sacrifice fly to right that scored Lavalle and pushed the Penmen ahead 12-1. Southern New Hampshire was able to reload the bases for Caruso, and she reached on an error that scored three runs and provided the final margin of victory.

Sophomore Nicole Gubellini (Salem, N.H.) took the ball in game two and upped her record to 4-1 with her third complete game of the year. Gubellini scattered nine hits and allowed two earned runs while striking out four in the victory.

Southern New Hampshire provided Gubellini with all the offense she would need in the bottom of the first inning, as it scored four times in its first trip to the plate. Hannan started the rally with a single to right before Maloof belted a two-run shot to left to make it 2-0. Caruso followed with a base knock and moved up to third on a one-out hit by Morrissey. Two batters later, Eicher ripped a two-run double to drive in both runners and stake the Penmen to a 4-0 lead.

The two teams held each other off the scoreboard until the fifth when Southern New Hampshire tacked on another run to extend its lead to five. Perdigao dropped a bunt single to lead off the inning before a groundout advanced her to second. Maloof slapped a base hit back up the middle, and Perdigao raced home complete the Penmen scoring.

In the top of the seventh, Assumption attempted to mount a comeback. After a pair of one-out singles and an error loaded the bases, Ashley Abad trimmed the Southern New Hampshire lead to three with a two-run single to right-center. Gubellini was able to retire the ensuing batter before Stephanie Menard delivered a pinch-hit double down the left-field line that scored Jess Dipilato and brought the Greyhounds within a pair. With the tying run on second base and two outs, Gubellini retired the final hitter on a pop up to third base and secured the victory.

Eicher keyed the Penmen offense on Saturday with four hits, four RBI, and two runs scored. Hannan chipped in with three hits, a walk, and four runs, while Caruso finished the doubleheader with three hits and scored three times.

Southern New Hampshire resumes play on Monday when it hosts Merrimack College in a Northeast-10 twinbill slated to begin at 3 p.m. Assumption is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts the Warriors at 2 p.m. on the campus of WPI.