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Frazier gives Big Blue split with Bowdoin


Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Graduate student Allie Frazier laced a two-RBI single through the left side in the bottom of the 7th to give the University of New England a 3-2 victory in the nightcap of a non-conference softball doubleheader with Bowdoin College on Wednesday evening (Apr. 23) at Claude Dubois Field. The Polar Bears took the opener by a score of 6-0.

The Nor'easters conclude the regular-season with a 23-15 overall mark, and will begin play in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship on Monday. The double elimination bracket and tournament schedule will be released late Thursday.

Bowdoin moves to 19-11 on the year with the split.

Game two was scoreless until the top of the 4th, when sophomore Dimitria Spathakis put a one-out double into left-center, scoring classmate Katie Gately, who had led off the frame for the Polar Bears with a double down the left field line.

Bowdoin added one with two down in the 6th as Spathakis singled to right, bringing in first-year Alana Luzzio. Luzzio had reached on the previous play with a single to left, and then stole second.

Big Blue got back within one (2-1) in the last half of the 6th. Senior Amanda Vaudreuil slotted a one-out single through the left side, moved to second after a walk, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a groundout to the pitcher.

The Polar Bears threatened to extend its lead in the 7th, getting runners to first and third with one out. But a flyout to shallow left and a groundout to short kept the margin at one heading into UNE's last chance.

Senior Jessica Potter took the first pitch she saw into right field to start the Nor'easters' rally. After fouling off three pitches facing an 0-2 count, first-year Syndey Helmbrecht pushed a bunt just off the right side of the pitching circle, allowing herself to reach safely and pinch runner Syndey Farley to advance to second. Both moved up one base on a wild pitch, setting the stage for Frazier, who put the pay-off pitch into left to drive in both Farley and Helmbrecht.

UNE first-year Katelyn Austin improved to 6-3 with the win, striking out four against seven hits and two walks. Helmbrecht had two of the six hits surrendered by Bowdoin first-year Emily Griffin, who fanned four in the setback.

Junior Adriane Krul matched Spathakis with two hits for the Polar Bears. 

Game one was mostly under the control of Bowdoin senior Melissa DellaTorre, who struck out eight while giving up five hits and one free pass to bump her ledger up to 6-4.

The Nor'easters really only challenged the shutout in the 4th, when sophomore Jess Lemos roped a double into the right-center gap, putting two runners in scoring position. Frazier worked a walk after fouling off the first two pitches she saw, loading the bases, but DellaTorre left the next batter looking at strike three to end the inning.

The Polar Bears scored one in the 3rd, three in the 4th, and two in the 5th to arrive at their final cushion. In those frames alone, the visitors combined six hits with two walks and three UNE errors to gain the advantage on the scoreboard.

Bowdoin received two hits each from Krul, Luzzio, and Griffin. Luzzio, who scored twice, recorded the second of back-to-back triples into right-center during the 5th, following junior Cielle Collins.

Lemos added a infield single in the 2nd to pace the hosts with two hits. Vaudreuil, Potter, and sophomore Amanda Vallante had one hit apiece, before adding another later in the day.

Big Blue sophomore pitcher Lauren Doneski was charged with one earned run in the loss, striking out two.

The Polar Bears are slated to host Bates College on Friday to begin the four-game final weekend of New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play.


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