Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- University of New England first-year pitcher Kelly Reid (Nantucket, Mass.) fanned nine Endicott College batters to help the Nor'easters pick up a 5-1 victory in the first game of a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) softball doubleheader Sunday afternoon (Apr. 1) at Claude Dubois Field, before the Gulls took a 4-2 decision in the second game to earn a split.

Big Blue moves to 9-5 (3-1 CCC) on the year, while Endicott now stands at 9-6 overall (5-1 CCC). UNE's triumph in the opener was just the third in the last 26 meetings with the Gulls.

The Nor'easters went right to work in the 1st inning of game one, as senior Ashley Gott (Winterport, Maine) tripled to the left field wall. A sacrifice fly by sophomore Amanda Vaudreuil (Windham, N.H.) put the hosts up, 1-0.

Endicott evened things with a run in the top half of the 3rd when a single to center by sophomore Alexandra Moise (North Reading, Mass.) plated junior Jocelyn Russo (Middletown, Conn.) from second base.

But the Nor'easters went back in front for good in the bottom on the inning, as Vaudreuil doubled to left-center, scoring first-year Adrienne Chase (Holden, Mass.).

The lead jumped to 4-1 in the 4th courtesy of RBI-doubles from both junior Casey Brigham (New London, Conn.) and Chase.

Reid retired nine of the last 11 batters to prevent Endicott from drawing closer. In improving to 5-1 on the season, she surrendered seven hits and no walks over seven innings.

Chase was the lone player for UNE with multiple hits in the contest.

For the Gulls, Russo and sophomore Kelley Michael (Ipswich, Mass.) each had two hits. First-year Cam Sprague (Clifton Park, N.Y.) took the loss in the circle, going 3 2/3 innings to strike out two.

Endicott rebounded to start fast in the second game, connecting for eight hits in the first two innings. The visitors put three runs on the board during that time, despite stranding four runners in scoring position.

Moise drove in sophomore Jesse Bilafer (Concord, Mass.) and scored on a double by junior Colleen Martin (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) to make it 2-0 after the 1st. Bilafer knocked in the lone run in the 2nd, as first-year Sam Cila (Wakefield, Mass.) scored.

A Cila single in the 5th plated Martin to bump the cushion up to 4-0. Meanwhile, sophomore pitcher Nell O'Connor (Harwich, Mass.) -- the first game reliever and second game starter -- saw only two UNE players reach base over the initial four innings.

The Nor'easters threatened in the bottom of the 5th after getting the first two batters on base, but a line-out to the shortstop kept things in-check for the Gulls. Sophomore pinch-hitter Lauren Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine) looped a double down the left field line to get a pair into scoring position, however, UNE could move the runners no further.

Following a quick inning in the circle by Big Blue senior reliever Julie Bigelow (Montpelier, Vt.), the hosts did manage to get on the board in the 6th, off the bat of Vaudreuil for the third time on the afternoon.

The UNE deficit was still three (4-1) heading into the bottom of the 7th, and Gott cut into the margin with a two-out RBI-single through the left side that scored Rousseau from second. An infield error left runners at the corners, but a fly-out to right ended the rally attempt. The Nor'easters left six runners on base over their last three at-bats.

Russo, Bilafer, Moise, Martin, and Cila all had two hits in the game for Endicott. O'Connor was tagged for one earned run while scattering eight hits and no walks in the winning effort.

UNE sophomore Jessica Potter (Crown Point, N.Y.) went 3-for-3 in the outing, and Gott finished with a pair of hits. Senior starting pitcher Erin Lyons (Salem, N.H.) struck out four in 3 2/3 innings of work.

The Gulls return home for a non-conference series with Wheaton College (Mass.) on Tuesday. Big Blue's next date is Wednesday, when Eastern Nazarene College comes to town. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.


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