Box Score Game One

Box Score Game Two

MANCHESTER, N.H. – No. 18 nationally ranked Southern Connecticut softball team took one of two games against St. Anselm Saturday afternoon 9-1, 3-7.  Southern improved to 25-5, 13-3 (NE-10).
 
The Owls struck first in game one. Nicole Buch (Darien, Conn.) began the scoring drive with a reach to first base. Kristin Whitley (North Andover, Mass.) followed suit with a double into center field bringing Buch to third. With Alyssa Downs (Seymour, Conn.) on first after being hit by a pitch, Kate Hoffman (Orange, Conn.) hit a double into right field sending home Buch to give Southern the 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first inning.
 
Stacy Pouliot (Mystic, Conn.) continued the Owl's offense with a homerun blast to left center in the top of the second inning opening the lead to 2-0.
 
The third inning continued to favor the Owls notching four more runs to extend the lead to 6-0. Hoffman connected on an RBI single hit to left center sending home Bucko from third base. With two runners on base, Jessica Rosa (Wallingford, Conn.) connected on a homerun to centerfield clearing the bases with three RBI's.
 
Southern took their lead into the top of the sixth inning only conceding one run. The inning continued high powered offense with Allison Lehner (East Islip, N.Y.) leading the way doubling to right field to set up Bucko on an RBI single to add to the Owl's lead. Downs ignited the last scoring drive with a triple into right field.
 
The game ended in the bottom of the sixth on a mercy rule victory for the Owls with a final score of 9-1.
 
Jayme Larson (Aurora, Colo.) pitched a solid 6.0 innings and allowing only two hits with four strikeouts. Larson improved to 10-2 on the season.
 
In game two action, SCSU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Buch started the inning off reaching first base on a fielder's choice. Whitley followed with a double down the left field line putting Buch into scoring position. With two runners on, Downs hit a sacrifice fly ball sending home Buch to give Southern the 1-0 lead. Hoffman tacked on another run off a single widening the score to 2-0.
 
St. Anselm rallied back with six runs in the bottom of the first inning, pinning the Owls to a 6-2 deficit. After a scoreless second inning, Hoffman connected on a solo homerun to shorten the lead to 6-3. St. Anselm answered in the fifth inning matching Hoffman's efforts opening the gap to 7-3. 

Hoffman and the Owls tried to rally in the seventh with Rosa sending in Hoffman off a single cutting the lead to 7-4. However the Hawks would hold on to the lead and take game two of the doubleheader.  
 
Southern returns to action Monday, April 9 for a doubleheader at home against St. Rose