Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England improved to 8-1 in its last nine outings with a 4-0, 9-7 sweep of Rhode Island College in non-conference softball action Thursday afternoon (Apr. 10) at Claude Dubois Field.

UNE bumps its overall record up to 17-9 with the wins, while RIC drops back to 8-16 on the year.

The Nor'easters were led by senior Amanda Vaudreuil, who totaled six hits (3 doubles) on the day to go with four runs batted in and three runs scored. First-year pitcher Katelyn Austin struck out four in the opening shutout of the Anchorwomen, and sophomore Lauren Doneski fanned five in the nightcap to secure the decision.

Play was scoreless until the bottom of the 5th in game one, when the hosts put two on the board. Vaudreuil reached with a one-out double to left-center, and sophomore Amanda Vallante followed with her second hit of the game to put runners on the corners. Sophomore Kelly Murphy pushed a bunt down the third base line as Vaudreuil hustled home safely, and when the throw skipped to the backstop, Vallante came in as well.

Big Blue added two more in the 6th as Vaudreuil doubled to left-center once again, plating graduate student Allie Frazier and first-year Paige Moore-Haskell, who both got on with one-out singles.

RIC loaded the bases with two out in the top of the 7th, but a line-out to center ended the threat. Between the two sides, 23 runners were stranded on base.

Austin scattered nine hits and four walks in the win, moving to 4-2.

Senior Michelle Sylvestre took the setback for the Anchorwomen, surrendering one earned run and striking out two over five innings of work. Senior Stacy Pokora, junior Katelyn Sykora, and first-year Lindsey Cabral each had two hits on offense.

The Nor'easters never trailed in game two, after plating four runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Singles by senior Ali Stanley and Moore-Haskell sandwiched a walk by Frazier as UNE loaded the bases with no outs. First-year Corina Hickey drew a one-out walk to get the first run across, and Vaudreuil followed with a double down the line in right to score a pair. A groundout on the ensuing play was enough to make the margin four.

Rhode Island College took advantage of a two-base error with two down in the 3rd, as Pokora singled up the middle to drive in Cabral from third.

After UNE sophomore Abby Lambert made it 5-1 in the 4th with an RBI-single to left-center that scored Vaudreuil, the Anchorwomen cut into the deficit with two in the 5th. Two hits and a walk helped load the bases with one out before Pokora worked a RBI-walk. Junior Justina Thoma flew out to left to put another run up for RIC.

Big Blue led 6-3 heading into the last half of the 6th, and came away with a six-run advantage. Vaudreuil made it four hits in four at-bats with a lead-off single to right-center, and moved to second on the first out of the inning. Lambert's second hit produced a similar result to the first one, as Vaudreuil managed to score for a second time. Singles by sophomore Meghan Bolano and Stanley then set the stage for a two-RBI single up the middle from Frazier. Moore-Haskell posted her second hit of the contest fill the bases once again, but a force play at the plate and a groundout kept the visitors alive.

Cabral and first-year Lauren DiScuillo both singled to start RIC's last chance, and each advanced one base on a sacrifice bunt. Pokora notched her fourth hit of the afternoon and third RBI of the game on the next play, scoring Cabral again. Thoma registered a second RBI by dropping a single just inside the left-field line, as DiScuillo crossed home for a second time. Thoma and Pokora then scored on an infield throwing error, making it 9-7, but back-to-back groundouts to shortstop closed the door on the Anchorwomen.

Doneski was charged with four earned runs for UNE while moving to 7-3 in the circle. On the other side, RIC sophomore starter Katelyn McCaughey suffered the defeat in just two innings of pitching.

The Nor'easters take to their home field for a third straight day on Friday (3 p.m.) against Gordon College, before a road trip to Curry College on Saturday and a date back in Biddeford on Sunday with Endicott College.

Rhode Island College visits the University of Southen Maine on Saturday (1 p.m.).


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