Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

BRUNSWICK, Maine -- The University of New England and Bowdoin College each took a piece of Wednesday's (Apr. 15) non-league softball doubleheader at Pickard Field, with the Polar Bears winning the opener by a 9-1 margin (5 innings) and the Nor'easters capturing the nightcap, 3-2.

It was the fourth straight year that Bowdoin (19-9) and UNE (15-12) split their twinill.

After a slow start to the day, the Nor'easters plated all the runs they would need in the top of the 1st of GAME 2. A lead-off walk and steal had Sydney Helmbrecht at second base for Paige Moore-Haskell to drive in with a double to left. Moore-Haskell took advantage of a throwing miscue by the Polar Bears and a double-steal to come around to score, and Kelly Murphy, who walked in the cleanup spot, touched home when Meghan Bolano placed a two-out double into right field.

Bowdoin notched its first hit in the 3rd when Victoria Rusch homered over the left field fence, but the Polar Bears left two aboard in the frame and two more in the 4th as the margin stayed at 3-1.

Rusch pulled the hosts closer in the 6th, with a two-out double to center that scored Emily Griffin from first base.

UNE threatened to extend the gap in its half of the 7th, but stranded three runners on base.

The Polar Bears put the lead-off batter on in their last chance, and moved the tying run over to third with two outs, however could not push the equalizer across.

Amanda Vallante and Adrienne Chase rounded out the Big Blue total of four hits, while Abby Lambert fanned three to level her record at 5-5.

Griffin joined Rusch with two hits for Bowdoin, which totaled nine in the contest. Alana Luzzio took the loss.

The Polar Bears got one run in the 1st of GAME 1, and added three in the 2nd, capped by a two-out double by Cielle Collins.

UNE broke through against Julia Geaumont in the top of the 4th, when Vallante reached with a one-out single to center, advanced on a groundout, and Lambert singled into right to drive in Vallante.

It would be the only two hits Geaumont surrendered over the five innings, as she struck out three against no walks to up her personal record to 11-3.

Katie Gately followed a one-out error in the 5th with a home run to center to make it 6-1, and Lauren O'Shea soon registered another with an RBI-double. After the second out of the frame, Emma Stevens singled-in two more to provide the eight-run difference.

O'Shea and Geaumont each notched a pair of hits in the game to lead the nine-hit Bowdoin offense.

Katelyn Austin allowed six earned runs in a losing effort from the UNE circle.

The Nor'easters return to action on Thursday (3 p.m.) with a home doubleheader against Thomas College.