Casey Brigham had two hits in the second game and played a solid right field for UNE
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Junior pitcher Holly Renna (Charlton, Mass.) fired a pair of complete-game wins, and classmate Sarah Boyda (Oxford, Mass.) went 6-for-8 with four runs scored to spark Anna Maria College in a 4-0, 6-2 sweep of the University of New England in The Commonwealth Coast Conference softball action Monday afternoon at Claude Dubois Field.
Renna registered her fifth shutout in the opener, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out two. She stranded UNE runners at third base in both the fifth and sixth innings to preserve the shutout.
The AMCATS plated a run in the top of the first when Boyda led off with a bunt single and stole second. She would later score on a one-out single to center by junior Jill Hurley (Worcester, Mass.).
In the fourth, Anna Maria made it 2-0 when sophomore Becky Mercurio (Worcester, Mass.) got aboard with a two-out single. Mercurio moved to third when a bunt single by junior Emily Nugent (Worcester, Mass.) was thrown away. Boyda followed with a single up the middle to plate Mercurio.
Anna Maria would pad its lead in the seventh on a two-run single by junior Allyssa Boykin (Worcester, Mass.).
Boyda finished the contest with four hits and a stolen base to fuel the Anna Maria offense.
Sophomore Erin Lyons (Salem, N.H.) was tagged with the loss for the Nor'easters. She surrendered 10 hits while walking three and fanning five. Classmate Ashley Gott (Winterport, Maine) was the lone offensive bright spot with a pair of doubles.
Leading 1-0 after three innings in game two, the AMCATS hung a three-spot in the top of the fourth to take control. The visitors took advantage of three UNE errors to score twice in the frame, and sophomore Mary Moroski (Worcester, Mass.) doubled to left for the other run.
The Nor'easters cut their deficit in half during the home half of the inning on a run-scoring single by senior Angie Damon (Scarborough, Maine) and a groundout by first-year Megan Gauger (South Paris, Maine).
The AMCATS would add single runs in the sixth and seventh to provide themselves with some breathing room.
Renna (14-11) worked her way around eight hits and a pair of base on balls to register her 22nd complete game. Boyda and Mercurio each had two hits for AMC.
Damon and first-year Casey Brigham (New London, Conn.) had two hits apiece for the Nor'easters, while junior pitcher Amber Zablowsky (Rochester, Mass.) was saddled with the loss despite allowing just two earned runs.
A day after gaining the top spot in the TCCC standings, the Nor'easters (21-11, 14-6 TCCC) dropped to third place. UNE will return to action Wednesday with a home conference doubleheader with Gordon College (3:30 p.m.).
The AMCATS (17-17, 13-7), who saw their 11-game losing streak to UNE come to an end, host Curry College Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
