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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Abby Lambert fanned nine against just three hits and a walk as No. 6 University of New England topped No. 7 Nichols College, 5-2, in the opening round (Game 2 of 13) of the 2015 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Softball Championship on Saturday afternoon (Apr. 25) at Claude Dubois Field.

The Nor'easters (18-18) now move into the double elimination phase of the tournament and will face No. 3 Endicott College in Game 4 of the event on Monday (2:30 p.m.) at Salve Regina University.

The Bison wrap up the year with an overall mark of 11-18.

After Nichols stranded a pair in the top of the 1st, UNE got on the board when Cat Ouellette hit a lead-off single into left field, was sacrificed over to second, proceeded to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a passed ball.

Lambert (CCC 2nd Team) put down the next six and the Nor'easters threatened to extend the cushion by loading the bases with two away in the bottom of the 3rd, but the hosts could not capitalize.

NC got the first two batters on in the 4th, and Meghan Sears soon plated both with a one-out single to center, giving the Bison a 2-1 edge.

Big Blue bounced right back in the last half of the inning behind three hits and a pair of infield errors. Paige Moore-Haskell laced a one-out double into the gap in right-center to drive in Lambert (lead-off single) and tie the game. Sydney Helmbrecht (CCC 2nd Team) then guided a two-out single into center, knocking in Jessica Diaz and Moore-Haskell for a 4-2 margin. Helmbrecht motored home from second base on the next play -- a wide throw to first base on a grounder.

That was all the offense Lambert needed in the circle, as she retired the final 11 batters to even her personal ledger at 7-7.

Moore-Haskell and Adrienne Chase (CCC 2nd Team) each had two hits for UNE.

For Nichols, Kasey Ayer recorded two of her team's three hits, including a double to the wall in center in the 1st frame. Haley Fountain took the loss to drop to 8-9, surrendering two earned runs in 3.2 innings of work.


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