Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The University of New England softball team began its season with a win Saturday morning (Mar. 17), scoring once in the top of the 7th inning to take a 4-3 decision against Ohio Wesleyan University at the Lee County Sports Complex as part of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.

Tied at 3-3 entering the final frame, UNE senior Maegen Johnson (Standish, Maine) drew a lead-off walk. After two outs, sophomore Amanda Vaudreuil (Windham, N.H.) beat-out a hit to the left side of the infield, and the throw to first sailed high, allowing Johnson to score from second.

The Battling Bishops (4-5) threatened with a one-out double in their last at-bat, but could not plate the equalizer. On the day, Ohio Wesleyan stranded 11 runners on base.

Senior Julie Bigelow (Montpelier, Vt.) went the distance for the Nor'easters (1-0), striking out one and scattering 10 hits. Classmate Ashley Gott (Winterport, Maine) and sophomore Jessica Potter (Crown Point, N.Y.) each had two hits to pace the offense.

Big Blue jumped in front right from the start, tallying three runs in the top of the 1st inning. With one out, junior Casey Brigham (New London, Conn.) and Gott reached on singles up the middle. After an out and a hit-by-pitch, another hit batter scored the first run. Potter came up next and laced a single back through the middle to score a pair.

Ohio Wesleyan pulled even with one in the 3rd and two in the 4th. In the game, Erica Bryan went 3-for-4, and pitcher Dani Haley took the loss for the Battling Bishops.