Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England split its The Commonwealth Coast Conference softball doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Claude Dubois Field with Eastern Nazarene College, as each game was decided in the final inning.  UNE pulled out a 5-4 game one win with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, while ENC plated five runs in the top of the seventh inning to steal game two, 7-3.

With the score tied at 4-4 in the last of the seventh, UNE junior Lauren Webb (Jericho, Vt.) led off and reached on an error, advancing to second on the play.  Junior Caroline Engwer (Wrentham, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice, and while Webb moved to third, Engwer ended up at second.  Senior Ashley DePasquale (Uxbridge, Mass.) loaded the bases when she dropped down a bunt and beat out the throw at first base.  First-year Liz Kelly followed by slipping a bunt between third base and the pitcher's mound, allowing Webb to scamper home with the winning run.

The contest went back-and-forth in the early innings.  The Nor'easters led 2-0 after three innings, before the Crusaders answered back with three runs in the fourth inning behind three doubles and a single.

UNE regained the lead (4-3) with two runs in the fifth.  Senior Megan Gaedje (Tolland, Conn.) walked and stole second before a Webb single drove her in.  Webb was pushed to second on a sacrifice, and scored on a DePasquale double to center.

Senior Janna Fernandes (Taunton, Mass.) sent a home run over the left field fence to draw Eastern Nazarene even with the hosts in the sixth.

DePasquale's two hits led the Nor'easters, who snapped a four-game skid with the win.  First-year Julie Bigelow (Montpelier, Vt.) pitched the sixth and seventh innings to earn the win and improve to 3-0 on the season.

Game two saw the Crusaders (8-12, 4-6 TCCC) strike first, scoring a pair of runs in the third inning.  With two out and a runner on first, sophomore Jacqueline Tierney (Taunton, Mass.) blasted a home run to deep center field to give the visitors the early cushion.

UNE got one back in the fourth inning to cut the deficit in half (2-1).  Gaedje singled, picked up her third of four stolen bases on the day, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on a error during a failed pick-off attempt.

The Nor'easters took the lead in the sixth.  With two on and two out, sophomore pinch hitter Stephanie Podolski (Coventry, Conn.) looped a single over the third baseman to score Engwer and Gaedje, and give UNE a 3-2 advantage.

Eastern Nazarene bats came to life in the top of the seventh.  After tying the game at 3-3 with a trio of singles to start the inning, Tierney homered for the second time to put the Crusaders on top for good (6-3).  Sophomore Alice Burns (Fall River, Mass.) followed with a home run of her own to complete the scoring.

Tierney went 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in five runs, and scoring a pair.  Burns and senior Brittany Hardie-Jones (Jopatowne, Mass.) each notched two hits for the Crusaders, who roughed up UNE pitching for 12 hits on the game.

Senior Rachel Sorensen (Quincy, Mass.) pitched nearly the entire game for the win, holding the Nor'easters to just three hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.

UNE (13-8-1, 6-7-1 TCCC) returns to action Tuesday for a twinbill at Regis College.  First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.  Eastern Nazarene will host Endicott College on Friday.