NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Saint Joseph's College (10-14, 3-5 GNAC) swept a GNAC softball doubleheader at Norwich University (5-12, 1-7 GNAC) on Saturday afternoon, earning a 9-4 victory in the opener before completing the sweep with an 8-3 win in game two. The Monks totaled 17 runs on 25 hits in the twinbill and used balanced offense and complete-game efforts in the circle to improve to claim their first conference sweep of the season.

GAME ONE – Saint Joseph's 9, Norwich 4

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Saint Joseph's built an early cushion with two runs in the first and two more in the second before Norwich answered with a three-run fourth to pull within 4-3. The Monks responded immediately, getting an RBI single from freshman Jayden Sullivan (Hancock, Maine) in the fifth and breaking the game open with three runs in the sixth, highlighted by a three-run triple from senior Chantelle Bouchard (Biddeford, Maine). Saint Joseph's added another run in the seventh to put the opener away.

IN THE CIRCLE:

Saint Joseph's:

• Freshman Olivia Thomas (Belgrade, Maine) (W, 1-5) – 7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K

Norwich:

• Madison DeCota (L, 4-8) – 7.0 IP, 15 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

IN THE BOX:

Saint Joseph's:

• Kiera Gabric – 3-for-5, R, RBI, SB
• Jaylah Trottier (Fr., Biddeford, Maine) – 2-for-5, R, 2 RBI, SB
• Sadie Tirrell (Sr., Naples, Maine) – 1-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB
• Chantelle Bouchard – 2-for-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 3B
• Jayden Sullivan – 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2B
• Kryslin Stearns (Jr., Concord, N.H.) – 2-for-4
• Breann MacMillan (So., Medway, Mass.) – 1-for-2, 2 R, BB
• Makayla Quintal (So., Gorham, Maine) – 1-for-3, R

Norwich:

• Madison DeCota – 2-for-3, 2 R, BB
• Courtney Thomas – 2-for-4, R, RBI, 2B
• Ellie Laroche – 1-for-2, R, 2 BB
• Abbigale Williams – 1-for-2, RBI
• Brianna Vitale – 1-for-2, RBI, BB

GAME TWO – Saint Joseph's 8, Norwich 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Norwich scored three times in the bottom of the first, but Saint Joseph's answered with three runs in the third to even the game. Sadie Tirrell scored in the frame, Chantelle Bouchard doubled home one run, and junior Kryslin Stearns later came around on a Norwich error. The Monks moved in front for good with two runs in the fifth on a two-run double by freshman Bella Napolitano-Aberle (Portland, Maine), added two more in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Tirrell and an RBI single from Stearns, and tacked on an unearned run in the seventh to finish off the sweep.

IN THE CIRCLE:

Saint Joseph's:

• Senior Miranda Northrup (Whitefield, Maine) (W, 7-5) – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Norwich:

• Delia Mannion (L, 1-3) – 5.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• Madison DeCota – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 K

IN THE BOX:

Saint Joseph's:

• Kiera Gabric – 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB
• Sadie Tirrell – 1-for-2, R, RBI, HBP, SB
• Chantelle Bouchard – 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, 2B
• Kryslin Stearns – 2-for-4, R, RBI
• Bella Napolitano-Aberle – 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2B
• Jaylah Trottier – 1-for-3, SAC
• Olivia Thomas – R, RBI, BB

Norwich:

• Madison DeCota – 3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B
• Jessica Zalucki – 1-for-4, R
• Josephine Whitney – 1-for-4, R
• Courtney Thomas – 1-for-4, RBI

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the sweep, Saint Joseph's moved to 35-6 all-time against Norwich.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's returns to action on Monday, April 6th, when the Monks host the University of New England for a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 PM in Standish.