Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England recorded a 6-0 victory over Thomas College in softball action Thursday (Apr. 16) at Claude Dubois Field, following the Terriers 7-6 decision (8 innings) in the opener of the doubleheader.

Big Blue moves to 16-13 on the year, while Thomas now stands at 4-17.

Adrienne Chase led the Nor'easters with five hits on the day. Sydney Helmbrecht and Amanda Vallante also had multiple-hit performances in both contests, helping UNE to 22 hits during the afternoon.

Abby Lambert picked up the win in GAME 2, striking out six against one walk and four hits to improve to 6-5 individually.

The nightcap was scoreless into the 4th, when Chase started things with a double down the line in left. Kelly Murphy put an RBI-single into center field to make it 1-0, and after a fielder's choice and steal by Lambert, Mollie Bartles smacked an RBI-double into left-center.

UNE registered three more in the 5th to gain some separation. A one-out infield single by Helmbrecht and a bloop-single just inside the right-field line by Sara Pelkey had runners at the corners for Vallante, who singled through the right side to plate one. There were then two down with runners in scoring position for Murphy, who upped her RBI total to three with a single through the left side.

The Terriers threatened to break through in the top of the 6th, advancing runners to the corners with two out, but Lambert fanned the ensuing batter to get out of the jam.

Big Blue completed the scoring in the last half of the inning, when a two-out single off the pitcher's glove and into right field by Helmbrecht scored a runner from second base.

Thomas starter Emily McKenney dealt four innings from the circle in a losing effort.

The Terriers began quickly in GAME 1, scoring twice in both the 1st and 2nd frames. Briana Warren, who notched four of her team's 10 hits in the outing, kicked off the initial stanza with a single. Sonja Morse followed with a bunt single, and after a walk to load the bases, Korrie Laren drove a single up the middle to knock in a pair.

In the Thomas 2nd, Lindsy Hoopingarner singled an scored with one out, driven in by Warren with a double to straightaway center. Warren moved to third on an error and Morse lofted a sacrifice fly into right to increase the margin to 4-0.

The visitors had first and second with one down in the 3rd but could not score, and the Nor'easters started back in the bottom of the inning by pushing one across the plate. A two-out hit batter was followed by singles from Vallante and Chase to get the hosts on the board.

UNE inched closer (4-3) in the 5th, which formed when Helmbrecht put a one-out single up the middle and Paige Moore-Haskell walked. The second out of the inning did not move the runners, but when Chase beat out an single to the right side of the infield, Helmbrecht motored home to score. The play continued with Chase successfully eluding the beginnings of a rundown, while managed to scamper home with her second run of the game.

The Nor'easters took the lead in the 6th, behind a two-out RBI-double to left by Cat Ouellette and an RBI-single up the middle from Helmbrecht.

Warren began the 7th with an infield single, advanced to second on a sacrifice, and went to third on a hit into right-center. After a flyout, an error allowed Warren to tally her third run of the match and knot the score at 5-all.

A two-out double to left-center by Chase -- her third hit of the game -- was not enough to end it in UNE's last chance of regulation, and play proceeded into extras.

The Thomas runner placed at second base in the 8th only moved forward 60 feet with a sacrifice and a groundout, but Hoopingarner ensued with a double to left to make it 6-5. Warren's speed on an infield hit then produced a UNE throwing error that brought in another run to pad the cushion (7-5).

Lambert's second hit of the contest establish runners at first and third, and a sacrifice bunt by Bartles managed to squeeze Murphy home for Big Blue's sixth marker. UNE had the tying run one bag away from extending things further when a groundout sealed the result.

Morse fanned seven for the win (2-5) in the Thomas circle.

Lauren Doneski recorded five strikeouts and surrendered just three earned runs in the setback for the Nor'easters.

UNE (8-4 CCC) gets back to work on Saturday at noon for a home twinbill against Curry College (5-7 CCC). The Terriers head for Johnson State College the same afternoon (2 p.m.).


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