Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics

MILTON, Mass. -- The University of New England defeated Curry College by scores of 2-0 and 5-4 (9 innings) in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) softball action Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 18) at D. Forbes Will Field.

Sydnee Bessler went the distance for both victories, which upped the UNE's unbeaten streak in the series against the Colonels (9-19, 4-10 CCC) to six games. The junior hurler has accounted for every pitching win for the Nor'easters (15-13, 8-4 CCC) in 2018.

With the triumph in the opener, UNE head coach Dan Letellier picked up his 200th career win (now 201-143-2 in 9 seasons).

Bessler also added 13 strikeouts to her season total (133), which now stands as the best single campaign on-record (24+ seasons) -- it surpasses the 130 by Kelly Reid during 2012.

Bessler was practically untouchable in GAME 1 (UNE 2-0), striking out a career-high 11 without conceding a walk and allowing just two hits.

The visitors provided her with all the run support she would need in the top of the 2nd inning, as Alexis Kapsambelis, Meg Harvey (RBI), Ali Kuechler, and Caty Flagg (RBI) started the frame with consecutive singles. Flagg went 3-for-3 and Kapsambelis had two hits for the Nor'easters.

Mikayla Lambert fanned seven in the setback for the Curry.

GAME 2 (UNE 5-4) was scoreless until the 4th, when UNE put together a four-hit inning to go up 2-0. Singles by Andrea Gosper, Caroline Schoenbucher, and Sarah Lachapelle (RBI) got the Nor'easters on the board with no outs, and then a two-out RBI-double from Kapsambelis tacked on another.

A one-out error helped the Colonels tie things up in the 5th with two unearned runs. The hosts threatened the move in front during the 6th, but could not produce anything from a bases loaded and one away situation.

Both sides moved their placed runner around to score from second base in the 8th (3-3). Then, with one gone and a runner on third in the 9th, Kapsambelis launched her first career home run over the fence in left for a 5-3 advantage.

Talia Forte got one back with an RBI-single in the last half of the stanza. However, Curry stranded two in scoring position as the match ended.

Bessler struck out two in the win, with no walks and no earned runs. Gosper went 3-for-3 at the top of the UNE lineup.

Rebecca Black took the setback in the circle for the Colonels. Jocelyn Dimond and Taylor Newcomb each had two hits for the offense.

Next up: UNE returns home to face Eastern Nazarene College (11-3 CCC) on Friday beginning at 3 p.m.