Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 win in game one, but the University of Southern Maine responded with a 15-hit attack en route to a 7-4 victory as the two non-conference opponents split a softball doubleheader at Claude Dubois Field.

The Nor'easters now stand at 6-6 on the season, while the Huskies sport a 6-10 mark.  The second-game win gave Huskies' Bonny Brown-Denico her 300th career win.  The 13th-year head coach is Southern Maine's all-time leader in victories.

Game one saw USM push across a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to take 4-3 lead.  The Huskies scored twice without the aid of a hit, capitalizing on two UNE errors and a wild pitch.  Stacey Stuart '11 (Belgrade, Maine) put the Huskies ahead on a groundout.

The Nor'easters would rally for victory in the home half of the inning.  Megan Gaedje '09 (Tolland, Conn.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then moved to second on a single to center by Katie Morin '08 (Lewiston, Maine).  Gaedje came home on an opposite-field double by Ashley DePasquale '09 (Uxbridge, Mass.).  After a walk loaded the bases, USM cut down the potential winning run at the plate on a groundball.  Jennifer Waldecker '10 (Hookset, N.H.) then drove a shot over the head of USM's center fielder for a single to score DePasquale and end the contest.

Trailing 2-1 after four innings of the second game, the Huskies broke things open with five runs on six hits in the top of the fifth.  Sarah Deroche '11 (Portland, Maine) had a two-run double, Sabrina Mills '09 (Westford, Mass.) ripped an RBI single, and Heather Gilman '11 (Fairfield, Maine) had a run-producing groundout.

The Nor'easters would threaten with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but winning pitcher Kristina Grondin '08 (Sanford, Maine) retired the final three batters to record the complete-game victory.

Sarah Hamel '08 (Rochester, N.H.) earned the win in game one, pitching her way around four errors, which led to four unearned runs.  Hamel allowed just three hits and struck out four to even her record at 3-3.

Offensively, the Nor'easters were sparked by Morin, who had three hits and two runs batted in.  Waldecker had another single in addition to the game-winner.

In game two Mills, Stuart and India Lowe '10 (Gloucester, Mass.) had three hits apiece to spark the Huskies' offense.  Grondin surrendered six hits and a pair of runs while striking out five.

Lisa Baillargeon '08 (Berlin, N.H.) had a pair of triples for the Nor'easters, who host Nichols College for a The Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader Saturday at noon.

USM heads to Danbury, Conn. that same day for a Little East Conference twinbill at Western Connecticut State University (noon start).

(posted April 3, 2008 | 20:09 ET)