Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Lauren Zambrano (CCC Pitcher of the Year/1st Team) struck out nine while allowing two hits and three walks to lead No. 1 Western New England University past No. 6 University of New England, 3-0, as the double elimination phase (Game 9 of 13) of the 2015 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Softball Championship continued Thursday evening (Apr. 30) at Golden Bear Park.

Yet to lose in the tournament, the Golden Bears (28-7) move into Saturday's final round (Game 12, 1 p.m.). WNE will draw the winner of the 11 a.m. elimination contest (Game 11) between the Nor'easters and No. 3 Endicott College (which posted two wins on Thursday; 3-2 over No. 4 Curry, and a 5-4 [9 innings] come-from-behind triumph over No. 6 Roger Williams).

UNE, which slips back to 20-19 on the year, defeated the Gulls by a 3-1 margin in Game 4 of the championship earlier in the week.

Click HERE for the championship bracket.

After the second batter of the day for Big Blue singled into right-center, Zambrano worked through the next seven without a blemish (5 strikeouts).

Meanwhile, the hosts put an unearned run on the board in the bottom of the 2nd, as a lead-off error allowed for Zambrano's two-out double into right-center that scored Grace Kucharski (CCC 2nd Team).

The Nor'easters could not capitalize on an error that started the 4th, and Kucharski began the last half of the stanza with a home run over the fence in right-center to make it 2-0.

UNE recorded its other single to kick-off the top of the 5th, and had runners at first and second with one down, but Zambrano fanned the next two to get past the threat.

Sam Mulhern (CCC 1st Team) padded the WNE cushion in the 5th with a one-out solo shot to straightaway center.

Big Blue managed lead-off walks in both the 6th and 7th frames, but was unable progress either into scoring position.

Zambrano upped her personal mark to 16-1 with the result. Gabby Lavinio had two of the six hits for the Golden Bears.

Abby Lambert (CCC 2nd Team) took the setback in the circle for UNE, registering three strikeouts against one walk in dropping to 8-8 on the season. Adrienne Chase (CCC 2nd Team) and Sydney Helmbrecht (CCC 2nd Team) posted the hits for the visitors.