Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Senior Stefanie Stockwell allowed three earned runs over 12 innings of work as the University of Southern Maine defeated the University of New England by scores of 5-3 and 6-5 in non-conference softball action Friday afternoon (Mar. 28) at a drizzle-covered Claude Dubois Field.

After going winless through their first five outings, the Huskies improve to 4-8 on the year. The Nor'easters, who had won 7-of-8, slip back to 8-6 overall.

Stockwell pitched the final five innings of the opener, surrendering just two hits to preserve a one-run cushion before USM scored an insurance run in the top of the 7th. She then went the distance in the nightcap as the visitors held on late for the win, and finished the day with six strikeouts.

Offensively for the Huskies, first-year Samantha Crossman totaled six hits in eight at-bats across the doubleheader, along with four RBI. Stockwell and junior Lily Cooper each tallied four hits; Stockwell also scored four times and drove in three.

UNE led 1-0 heading into the 3rd inning of game one, only to see Southern Maine plate four runs. After a pair of walks and a bunt single by Cooper, Stockwell laced a double to right to make it 2-1. It was 3-1 later in the frame when Crossman singled home Stockwell.

Big Blue trimmed the margin to 4-3 in the bottom of the inning. First-year Sydney Helmbrecht led off with a double to center. Graduate student Allie Frazier followed with a single before stealing second. A single through the left side by sophomore Amanda Vallante managed to get one home, and an error on the next play allowed another run.

Stockwell entered the circle facing runners at the corners and still no outs, but fanned two around in infield popout to end the threat.

With two out and two aboard in the top of the 7th, Crossman came to the dish and put an RBI-single up the middle to provide the final margin. It was her fourth base hit of the game.

Helmbrecht began the last of the 7th with her second hit, but the hosts could not manufacture any runs. First-year Katelyn Austin was saddled with the loss in 3 1/3 innings of work. Sophomore Lauren Doneski struck out three against zero walks and three hits the rest of the way.

Crossman singled home Stockwell to give USM an early lead in game two, but the Nor'easters tied things at 1-1 in the bottom of the 1st when junior Adrienne Chase put an RBI-single into left that scored Vallante.

The Huskies got one in the 2nd but left the based loaded, and upped the cushion to 3-1 in the 3rd when junior Kristen Duross homered over the center field fence.

Crossman knocked in Stockwell again in the 5th to make it 4-1 in favor of USM, but UNE answered with a pair in the bottom of the inning. An opening walk by first-year Paige Moore-Haskell was followed by a single to center by Vallante, and a two-base error on the play allowed Moore-Haskell to score. Vallante scored next on a flyout to right field.

Southern Maine restored the three-run margin in the 6th as Cooper and Stockwell recorded back-to-back hits to drive-in runs.

The Nor'easters had two on with two out in the bottom of the 7th, and Chase doubled to left-center to close the gap to 6-5, but a popout ended the contest on the ensuing play.

Stockwell allowed three earned runs in the victory, while going 3-of-4 at the plate.

Vallante and Chase each went 3-of-4 for Big Blue. Sophomore Abby Lambert struck out five and gave up four earned runs in a losing effort.

The Huskies open up Little East Conference (LEC) action on Saturday (1 p.m.) with a visit to UMass Dartmouth.

UNE resumes Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play at noon on Saturday, traveling to Salve Regina University for a league twinbill.


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