Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Western New England University picked up a pair of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) wins over the University of New England on Sunday afternoon (Apr. 12) at Golden Bear Softball Park, posting results of 8-5 and 5-0.

The Golden Bears improve to 15-6 overall and 7-1 in conference outings. UNE (14-11) drops back to 8-4 in the CCC.

Amanda Vallante had five of UNE's 11 hits on the day.

WNE got things started in the bottom of the 1st inning of GAME 1 with a two-RBI double by Alexis Bukowski and an RBI-single by Grace Kucharski. All three runs were unearned against UNE starting pitcher Katelyn Austin, as a two-out error extended the frame.

The hosts added one in the 2nd on a two-out homer to center by Corianna DeLisi, and three more in the 4th to go up 7-0, behind a two-RBI single by Heather Fecteau and another run-scoring hit by Bukowski.

Both sides posted one in the 5th before Kelly Murphy gave the Nor'easters one more (8-2) in the 6th with an RBI-single.

Big Blue rallied with three in the 7th and had the tying run stepping to the plate when a runner was thrown out at third base. Abby Lambert led off the inning with a pinch-hit home run to center, while Vallante and Adrienne Chase followed shortly after with RBI-singles.

Kucharski ended with three hits for Western New England, with Fecteau contributing a pair. Heidi Grieger got the win in the circle to move to 7-5.

Austin struck out four and walked none in her three innings of work, and Lauren Doneski closed the last three frames, like Austin, surrendering just one earned run.

GAME 2 was scoreless into the last half of the 3rd when Fecteau sent a three-run shot over the fence in left.

The Golden Bears tacked on two unearned runs with two down in the 5th, as Lauren Zambrano doubled down the line in left.

UNE loaded the bases with one out in the 6th, but could not get on the board.

Zambrano fanned 12 in the circle while allowing four hits and three walks to get to 8-1.

On the other side, three of those hits came from Vallante (in 3 at-bats). Sara Pelkey gave up the three earned runs in the setback.

The Nor'easters head for Bowdoin College to play a non-league twinbill on Wednesday (3:30 p.m.).