Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Samantha Mulhern had five hits and a total of eight runs batted in to lead the Western New England University Golden Bears to a sweep (7-2, 7-3) of the University of New England in a mutual Commonwealth Coast Conference softball opener Tuesday (March 26) afternoon at Golden Bear Park.

The twinbill was the first set of action for each team since returning from their respective Spring Break trips last week. Both teams now stand at 6-6 on the season.

In the opener, Mulhern finished a home run shy of the cycle, driving home a pair of runs with a double in the second, two more with a single in the fourth, and completing her six-RBI game by plating a pair in the sixth with a triple.

Lauren Zambrano improved her record to 5-3 by working her way around six hits with just one walk. Grace Kucharski and Alexis Bukowski had two hits apiece for Western New England, which featured an 11-hit attack.

All of UNE's offense came in the third frame when Adrienne Chase and Erin Grover provided run-scoring singles. Lauren Doneski (2-1) was charged with the loss in the circle. She went 5.2 innings, allowing all 11 of WNE's hits and surrendering five earned runs.

As was the case with Game 1, the Golden Bears jumped out quickly in the nightcap, establishing a 3-0 after two innings. UNE fought back to within one (3-2) on run-scoring singles by Grover and Amanda Vaudreuil in the top of fourth, but Western New England pulled away with four runs in the home half of the inning. The big hit in the decisive frame was a three-run homer to left-center by Hannah Hill.

Kirstyn Tracey plated UNE's final run in the sixth with a run-scoring groundout.

Hill, Kucharski, Mulhern and Maria Francese accounted for nine of the Golden Bears' 12 hits. Pitcher Leah Torre (1-3) earned her first victory of the season, scattering eight hits in five innings of work. Heidi Greiger worked the final two innings.

Abby Lambert (2-3) took the loss for UNE, allowing nine hits and six earned runs over four innings. Chelsea Damon came on to pitch the last two for the Nor'easters, who received three hits from Vaudreuil and two from Allie Frazier.

Big Blue returns to play Thursday with a road doubleheader at Gordon College. First pitch in the opener is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.