Myrtle Beach, SC - The Norwich University Women's Softball team split their first two games of the season.  The team is in Myrtle Beach for their spring break trip where they will play eight non-conference games this week.

Norwich fell in its season opener to DeSales University by the score of 17-2.  The DeSales Bulldogs were able to get off to a fast start which propelled them to the win.  Liliana Rolfe (Plainville, Mass.) had a strong opening game, going 2-for-3 from the plate to lead the Norwich offense.  Rolfe and Rachel Kempf (Warwick, R.I.) scored the Norwich runs while Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.), fresh off an outstanding basketball season, had an RBI.

The second game of the day saw an explosive Norwich offense catapult the Cadets to a 13-12 walk-off victory over Elms College. Although the game started much like the first game of the day, the Cadet bats came alive with a three run third inning which jump started the offense.  The Cadets would go on to score in each inning, starting with the third inning, to capture their first victory of the season.  

Laura Deaton was the brightest offensive star of the game for Norwich.  Deaton was 3-for-4 on the day with 2 runs scored and 4 RBIs including the walk-off game winner in the bottom of the seventh.  Rolf and McGinn each added two RBIs while Kempf and Charlotte Charbonneau (West Springfield, Mass.) each had an RBI.  In total, the Cadets pounded out 14 hits, 13 runs, and 10 RBIs in the game.  In the circle, Kennedy White (Randolph Center, Vt.), McGinn, and Allison Northup (Westerly, R.I.) combined to only give up 7 hits while Northup was credited with the win. 

The Cadets are right back into the action with two more games on Tuesday.  The first game will be at 9 a.m. against Bay Path University followed by a 1 p.m. game against Blackburn College.