WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore Nicole Gubellini (Salem, N.H.) pitched a five-hit shutout in the opener and freshman Sarah Lavallee (Candia, N.H.) scattered six hits in the nightcap as Southern New Hampshire University, ranked 24th in Division II, completed a three-game series sweep of Bentley University by taking both ends of a doubleheader, 3-0 and 5-1, in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division softball Saturday afternoon at Bentley.

Gubellini struck out seven and walked three while earning her ninth win in 12 decisions. Bentley had the leadoff runner on in three different innings but left eight on after getting only one hit in 14 at bats with runners on base.

The only scoring in the game came in the Penmen sixth. Junior center fielder Mo Hanaan (Scarborough, Maine) led off with a fly ball that fell in between the Falcon center and right fielders for a triple. After a ground out, she scored on a single to left by junior third baseman Katie Caruso (Newton). Lavallee followed with her conference-leading seventh home run, a towering blast to left that made it a 3-0 game.

Bentley junior lefty Kelly Ferris (Seymour, Conn./Seymour HS) turned in a strong effort from the center circle, blanking the conference's highest scoring team in six of seven innings while striking out four.

Game two also saw SNHU (29-6, 18-3 NE-10 Northeast) do all its scoring in one inning, this time with a five-run third. The Penmen loaded the bases without getting the ball out of the infield, using a walk, an attempted sacrifice in which the Falcons unsuccessfully attempted to get the out at second and a bunt single.

A bases-loaded walk to senior right fielder Ali Maloof (Norwood) forced in the first run and Caruso followed with a three-run triple to left center. She later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore catcher Erin Morrissey (Commack, N.Y.).

Bentley's only run of the three-game series was scored in the bottom of the seventh. Junior shortstop Alex Borrelli (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic HS) led off with a single up the middle, moved to third on a double by sophomore designated player Kelsey Smith (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant HS) and scored on a bloop double to left by junior catcher Jill Raia (Montville, N.J./Morristown Beard School).

Lavallee went the distance for her first career victory, striking out two while not issuing a walk. Ferris entered the game in relief in the third and gave the Falcons another strong performance, allowing only three hits in five innings of scoreless relief.

In the doubleheader, Raia, Borrelli and junior first baseman Morgan Mazone (Selkirk, N.Y.) each had two hits for the Falcons.

Bentley, 11-18 overall and 8-12 division, will finish its season Sunday with a noon home game against Merrimack College.