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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England fell behind early but scored nine unanswered runs to capture (9-2) the nightcap of a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) softball doubleheader with Nichols College on Saturday afternoon (Apr. 14) at the UNE Softball Field. The Bison needed 8 innings to clip the Nor'easters in the opener, 3-2.

The split keeps UNE (13-13, 6-4 CCC) in front of NC (11-10-1, 4-5-1 CCC) in the conference standings with eight games over the next week remaining in the schedule.

Meg Harvey led the rally in GAME 2 (UNE 9-2), going 3-for-3 with a walk. The first of her two doubles brought the Nor'easters to within 2-1 in the 3rd inning, and she touched home on a sacrifice fly later in the frame to give the hosts a lead for good at 3-2. The score was 5-2 entering the 6th, when the rookie stepped up and cracked a solo home run (her first) over the fence in left.

Sarah Lachapelle had two hits for UNE, including a two-RBI double in the 5th. Caroline Schoenbucher also registered two hits for the offense, while Sydnee Bessler fanned four in her 13th pitching victory. Anna Sessa, Alexis Kapsambelis, and Gabby Harrison all had one hit that later allowed them to score.

The Nor'easters took advantage of eight free passes issued by Nichols pitching, which contributed to 14 runners left on base.

The Bison carried the momentum from the first contest into the next, amassing six of their 11 hits hits during the initial two at-bats. The visitors took a 2-0 advantage in the 2nd, started by a Taylor McIntosh lead-off homer that clanked the left field foul pole. Taylor Commesso followed with a single, and two sacrifice bunts later, Colleen Callahan singled her home. 

McIntosh and Callie Andrews posted three hits for NC, with two apiece from Callahan and Commesso. Shannon Morin took the loss in the circle.

Nichols broke into a scoreless GAME 1 (NC 3-2) with two runs into the top of the 4th inning. A lead-off triple by Andrews and an RBI-single from Kendall Meehan put the first on the board.

Andrea Gosper got one back for UNE with two away in the 5th on a bases-loaded infield single. Lachapelle and Melissa Jakubowski then went double-single to begin the bottom of the 7th and tally the equalizer.

The Bison regained the edge in the top of the 8th, as Jessica Kuelling followed the third hits by both Meehan and Cara Mayhew with a single that fell right behind second base -- just deep enough to plate the go-ahead run.

Alexa Ferris retired the Nor'easters, in order, to seal her eighth pitching victory. She struck out five in the outing.

Bessler gave up one earned run in the setback, striking out seven against no walks. Schoenbucher and Lachapelle each notched three hits for UNE, and Gosper ended with two. Big Blue left a dozen on-base.

Next up: The Nor'easters are scheduled to host Endicott College on Tuesday (3 p.m.).