NEWTON, Mass. -- Simmons softball went one and one in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader this afternoon against the Norwich University Cadets, dropping the first game 8-6 before rebounding in the second to shut out the Cadets 8-0 in six innings of play.

In the first matchup, the Cadets took an early 4-0 lead in the top of the second. Corinne Baita singled up the middle and advanced to second on Melissa Rome walk. Maggie Walsh advanced Baita and Rome with a sacrifice bunt before Abby Belcher singled through the left side to score Baita. Kaylie Miller added a single to center field to score Rome and an error by the Sharks allowed the two runners to score.

The Sharks responded in the bottom of the third with their own four-run inning to tie the game. Jen Field (Windham, Maine) doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a pass ball before Cailin Pagel (Dorchester, Mass.) doubled to send Field home. Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) hit a hard single to right field to score Pagel from second and Amanda Gould (Kingston, Mass.) hit her third home run of the season to left field to tie the game.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Cadets took the lead in the fifth, scoring three runs off four hits. Kelly Travers hit a triple to center field and scored off a wild pitch, while teammate Erin Clark singled through the left side and picked up two RBI's.

Simmons added a run in the fifth when E. Cunningham doubled to center field to drive in Pagel but the Cadets reclaimed their three run lead in the sixth when Baita singled up the middle to score Travers.

The Sharks had the bases loaded in the seventh but were unable to convert as the Cadets went on to win, 8-6.

Baita picked up the win, pitching a complete game with six strikeouts, while Amanda Cordiero (Fall River, Mass.) recorded the loss for the Sharks.

In the second game, Simmons took a two-run lead in the bottom of the second off a single by Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.), a triple by E. Cunningham and a single through the left side by Gould. The Sharks defense held the Cadets scoreless in the top of the second before adding a run to their lead when Ari King (Westford, Mass.) crossed home plate for the Simmons.

The Sharks added to their lead in the third when Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) singled to right field and picked up an RBI for Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.), who scored on the play. Pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) picked up her first collegiate triple to score DeNoncour and increase the Sharks lead to five.

Emily Cunningham hit her second triple of the game in the bottom of the fifth and scored when Gould singled to left field. Backhaus struck out two in the top of the sixth before Pagel would hit a ground rule double to score the Sharks eighth run to end the game.

Backhaus pitched all six innings and recorded 10 strikeouts and only one walk. Kaylie Miller was credited with the loss for the Cadets.

Simmons returns to the field on Thursday, April 12th when they travel to UMass Boston for a non-conference game at 3:00 p.m. The Cadets host GNAC rival Pine Manor on April 11th for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.