WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior right-hander Maddy Barone (Halifax) pitched a four-hit shutout in the opener and classmate Gabriella Vachon (Newton) powered Southern New Hampshire with both her bat and arm in a game-two victory as the Penmen swept Bentley University, 2-0 and 3-1, in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division softball Saturday at Bentley.

In the opener, Barone stuck out ten and walked only one while winning for the ninth time in ten decisions. She scattered three singles and a double while authoring her fifth shutout of the season.

Her teammates gave her the only run she would need in the second when freshman Emily Carbonneau (Lowell) doubled to left, was sacrificed to third and scored on an error.

Barone made it a 2-0 game with an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Bentley sophomore Ashley Keegan (Pittsfield/Taconic HS) was charged with the loss despite a solid complete-game performance in which she scattered eight hits and struck out two.

Vachon drove in all three runs for the nationally-ranked Penmen in game two, beginning with a two-run homer in the second. In her fourth, her double off the top of the left field fence brought in sophomore left fielder Jackie Gavin (Laconia, N.H.), who led off the inning with a double.

Vachon also earned the save as she came in in the seventh to get the final two outs.

Bentley's only run of the afternoon was scored in the fourth. Freshman pitcher Elise Pereira (Plainville/King Philip Reg. HS) drew a two-out walk and eventually scored on a single off the third baseman by sophomore third baseman Montana Joyce (Marblehead/Marblehead HS).

The Falcons outhit SNHU 10-6 in game two with junior second baseman Kaileigh Serafini (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady HS) finishing 3-for-3 and junior first baseman Gabby Casalino (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West HS) 2-for-3.

Number 18 SNHU, which stretched its winning streak to 11, improved to 19-4 overall, 4-0 NE10 and 2-0 NE10 Northeast-10. Bentley's records stand at 7-14 overall, 3-3 NE10 and 0-2 in the division.

The two teams will complete the three-game series Sunday at 11 am. The time for that one has been moved up due to the forecast.