SOFTBALL

FORT PIERCE, Fla. - The Norwich University softball team closed out its trip to Florida with a doubleheader split versus Marywood University on Friday. The Cadets dropped a wild 14-13 game in the opener, before bouncing back to win the nightcap, 8-6.

Norwich's record moves to 4-4 with the split, while Marywood moves to 5-1 on the young season.

In the opener, Norwich jumped on Marywood with seven runs in the first inning. The Pacers responded with seven runs of its own in the second inning to tie the score. Marywood plated five more runs in the fifth inning to take a 13-7 lead, but they needed a great defensive play with two outs in the seventh to preserve the win.  With Marywood leading 14-9 entering the bottom of the seventh, Norwich scored four times to pull to within one, 14-13.  A line drive to the centerfield with two outs looked like it may be enough to score the tying run from second for Norwich, but an outstanding 8-6-2 putout from Marywood centerfielder Colleen Regan to shortstop Caitlin Hadzimichalis to catcher Stephanie Ziemeski ended with the runner out at the plate to preserve the Marywood win. 

In the nightcap, Norwich handed the Pacers their first loss of the season after plating four runs in the fifth to take a 6-3 lead.  Marywood responded with a one run fifth and two run sixth, but Marywood could not score in the bottom of the seventh. 

Norwich returns to action on Saturday, March 22, when the Cadets host GNAC foe Daniel Webster in a doubleheader.