BRIDGEWATER, Mass.- The Norwich Softball team returned north on Saturday afternoon as they took a trip to Bridgewater State in a twin bill.

The Bears were off and running out of the game in the first game, plating three runs. After that, Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) settled in in the circle keeping Bridgewater State off the scoreboard until the final inning, and only allowing eight batters to reach base, and striking out three.

McGinn was also instrumental in getting the offense going, driving home Adrianna Barrera (Connell, Wash.) with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to get the Cadets on the board, and start what would eventually become a six-run frame. The next batter, Taylor Farnsworth (St. Johnsbury, Vt.), laced a double to center field bringing home Madison DeCota (Strafford, N.H.). Three batters later, with runners on the corners, Rachel Kempf (Warwick, R.I.) would drive home both runners with a double down the left field line. Kempf came home on the next play, an RBI double by Hailey Williams (Tamaqua, Pa.) who would come home later in the inning on a wild pitch.

The Cadets would pad their lead in the top of the fifth, with McGinn driving home Barrera and DeCota with a single, then coming home on a Courtney Thomas (Strafford, N.H.) RBI double. An impressive offensive outing for Norwich saw McGinn go two for three with three RBI, DeCota going three for four with three runs scored, and Barrera going two for four with two runs en route to an emphatic 10-5 victory.
Looking to bounce back in game two, the Bears plated two runs in the bottom of the first in game two. Norwich would cut that lead in half in the third, which began with a DeCota infield single. Eventually, Thomas would drive her home with an RBI double to left center.

After Bridgewater State answered, the Cadets would tie the contest in the fifth beginning with back-to-back-double by DeCota and Barrera. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, DeCota capitalized on a Bear miscue, coming home on a dropped fly ball by the catcher to tie the game at three. Bridgewater responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the frame to jump ahead. DeCota would drive in one more run in the sixth to bring the Norwich deficit for three, but the score would stand. When all was said and done, DeCota finished the double dip with seven hits in eight at bats with five runs scored, two RBI, three doubles and ten total bases.

Up next for Norwich, they will travel to Mass Maritime on March 23 for a double header set to begin at 1 PM.