Game 1
Game 2

N. ANDOVER, Mass. - Alyssa Downs (Seymour, Conn.) hit the go-ahead home run in game two as the Southern Connecticut State University softball team was able to split with Merrimack at Warrior Diamond in N. Andover, Mass.

In game one, Merrimack scored three runs in the sixth inning and would hold on for the 6-2 win.

Kelsey Cockrill (Haymarket, Va.) got the loss for SCSU going 4.2 innings while allowing six runs , five earned, on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Merrimack (8-14) would go up 3-0 with two runs in the second inning. Cockrill had to deal with bases loaded trouble throughout the inning until Ashley Perry hit a two-run single to center field for the three-run lead.

SCSU (16-14) got within 3-2 with two runs in the fourth. The first run came when Kristie Vitulli (Bronx, N.Y.) reached on an error and scoring Julie Muscarella (Suffield, Conn.). The Owls would get the bases loaded with one out but only scored one run when Nicole Buch (Darien, Conn.) chipped in an RBI walk, scoring Stacy Pouliot (Ledyard, Conn.).

Merrimack then scored the three runs in the sixth after Tawny Palmieri had an RBI, and then back-to-back solo home runs from Lindsay Gibbs and Keaira Monet Perry.

In game two, Downs hit the go-ahead home run and the Owls held on, 5-3.

Yesenia Evaristo (Bethel, Conn.) got the win for SCSU going 4.1 innings while allowing no runs on one hit with one walk and four strikeouts. Jessica Van Alphen (Hudson, N.Y.) started the game and got the no decision.

SCSU went ahead 2-0 with two runs in the first inning. Pouliot reached on an error scoring Kate Hoffman (Orange, Conn.), and then Vitulli had an RBI single and scored Muscarella.

Merrimack tied it up 2-2 with two runs in the bottom of the first after Keaira Monet Perry scored on an error and then Jessica Fugazzotto had an RBI single.

Merrimack then went ahead 3-2 in the third when Ashley Perry scored a run on a wild pitch, but the Owls responded to take the lead for good.

Downs hit the home run to left center, also scoring Kelly Mitchell (Seymour, Conn.) and then Muscarella had an RBI single scoring Hoffman from second base.