Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Husson University scored five times in the top of the 5th inning to break open a 1-1 game and pick up a 6-1 victory over the University of New England in the opener of a non-league softball doubleheader Wednesday (Apr. 10) at Claude Dubois Field. The two sides played to a 7-7 draw (7 innings; called due to darkness) in the nightcap.

The Eagles (13-8-1) are now unbeaten in their last 10 outings (9-0-1). The Nor'easters slip back to 12-11-1 on the year.

UNE started fast in game two, plating three runs in the bottom of the 1st. The lead was 1-0 when sophomore Adrienne Chase grounded out to score junior Amanda Vaudreuil, who had reached earlier in the frame with a single. Senior Megan Gauger followed with a two-out double to the gap in right-center, and narrowly beat a play at the plate when first-year Amanda Vallante singled through the right side on the next play.

Husson got one back in the top half of the 3rd, as sophomore Kayla Merrill singled up the middle to drive in senior Lona Sargent from second base.

In the 4th, the Eagles batted through the lineup and chalked up seven hits on the way to scoring six times and move to a 7-3 advantage. Sargent and first-year Sami Schultz each knocked in a pair of runs with singles into center field.

Big Blue rallied in the bottom of the 5th, starting with consecutive one-out singles from senior Erin Grover, Vaudreuil, and Chase, before Gauger lofted a sacrifice fly to left field, making it 7-4. A walk to Vallante filled the bases, and an infield single by first-year Meghan Bolano trimmed the deficit to 7-5. Rookie Kelly Murphy stepped in as a pinch hitter and looped a single into shallow left to plate two more and even things at 7-7.

Husson put two aboard in both the 6th and 7th innings to try and regain the lead, but could not advance a runner past second base.

Sargent finished the game with three hits for the Eagles. Sophomores Victoria Overlock and Heidi Shaw added two hits apiece.

Game one saw Husson strike first, as sophomore Deb Colpitts recorded a 1st-inning double to center, scoring Merrill all the way from first base.

UNE threatened to get on the scoreboard in the home half of the 3rd, but stranded runners at second and third with two infield popouts to end the frame.

The Nor'easters made more progress on the Husson pitching in the 4th, as singles from sophomore Gabrielle LaRoche, Vallante, and junior Ali Stanley preceded the second hit of the game from senior Casey Brigham, which plated LaRoche with one down. That would be all for Big Blue in the inning, however, following a popout to the pitcher turned into an inning-ending double play.

The Eagles used the momentum from getting out of the jam to move back in front in the top of the 5th. Sargent, Merrill, and Schultz each drove in a run to make it 4-1, prior to senior Aimee Mortensen putting a two-RBI double into left-center and increasing the spread to five (6-1).

UNE again had runners at second and third looking to respond in its part of the 5th, but Husson picked-off the lead runner and Eagles junior pitcher Amanda Ryan registered a strikeout to keep the hosts from getting any closer.

The win was Ryan's first of the season (1-3), as she allowed nine hits and one walk over six innings of work. Shaw had a pair of hits to aid the offense.

Grover, Vaudreuil, and Vallante joined Brigham with two hits in the game for the Nor'easters. First-year Lauren Doneski took just her third setback in nine decisions (6-3), going 4 1/3 innings to surrender five earned runs, while fanning four. Classmate Abby Lambert went the rest of the way, giving up a hit and a walk against three strikeouts.

Husson returns to action Saturday (1 p.m.) with a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) doubleheader at home against Lyndon State College.

UNE is scheduled to visit Rhode Island College on Thursday (4 p.m.) for a pair of non-conference dates.


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