Game 1 Box ScoreGame 2 Box ScorePhoto GalleryBIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England defeated the University of Maine Farmington by scores of 5-4 and 6-1 in a softball doubleheader Thursday afternoon (Apr. 2) at Claude Dubois Field.
After walking off in the opener with a run in the bottom of the 7th, the Nor'easters (9-8) scored four times in the 1st inning of the nightcap to take control on the way to another victory.
The Beavers (1-5) scored once in each of the first two frames in
GAME ONE to get out in front, as lead-off hits by Shelby Bryant and Katie Clark eventually worked their way around to cross the plate.
UNE answered with a pair in the last half of the 3rd, started by a two-out triple to the gap in right-center by
Cat Ouellette.
Sydney Helmbrecht followed with an RBI-single up the middle, and after stealing second, scored when
Paige Moore-Haskell doubled to left-center.
The Nor'easters could not convert in the 4th when they received lead-off hits by
Kelly Murphy and
Abby Lambert, but Murphy came through with in the 5th with a two-RBI double to right-center that scored Helmbrecht and Moore-Haskell.
Big Blue wasn't able to increase the lead with two on and one down in the 6th, and UMF struck for two runs to tie things up in the top of the 7th with two outs. With a runner on second, Bryant singled through the left side to cut the deficit to 4-3, and following a wild pitch, Kiana Thompson dropped a single into center to drive in the equalizer.
Amanda Vallante drew a walk to start the UNE 7th and moved to second on a wild pitch before Murphy sacrificed her over to third. Lambert then squeeze a bunt single right down the third-base line, giving Vallante enough time to cross with the winning run.
Lambert totaled three hits in the contest, with Murphy, Moore-Haskell, and Ouellette each contributing two.
Sara Pelkey picked up the win in the circle, fanning two.
In addition to Bryant, UMF got two hits out of Clark and Meryl Bond. Allison Crocker relieved Beavers starter Abby Burdin after six innings and was charged with the loss.
Clark gave the Beavers another early advantage in
GAME TWO, putting a one-out double into right-center before scoring on the first of two hits by Kennadi Grover.
Six hits netted four runs for the hosts in the bottom of the 1st, however, sliding the Nor'easters ahead for good.
Adrienne Chase made it 1-1 with a one-out single to right, and Murphy followed with a run-scoring infield hit after a second out.
Katelyn Austin plated two more on a double to center.
Austin then resumed her work for UNE in the circle and shut down UMaine Farmington the rest of the way, striking out eight while scattering six hits and walking a pair.
The Big Blue hurler continued to help her own cause at the dish in the 3rd with an RBI-single up the middle. The Nor'easters tacked on one more run in the 6th courtesy of a bases-loaded, one-out single into left off the bat of
Ashlee Roy.
Austin finished 3-for-3 in the batter's box to lead the attack. Chase, Murphy, Helmbrecht, Vallante, Pelkey, and
Mollie Bartles all supported with both a hit and a run scored.
UMF starter Emily Vitone took the setback on the rubber. The Beavers are back in action next Wednesday against Thomas College.
UNE gets back to its Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) schedule on Friday (2 p.m.) with a home twinbill against Nichols College.
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