Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics
Photos

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Caroline Schoenbucher drove in a pair and Sydnee Bessler tossed an efficient complete-game as the University of New England notched a 2-1 victory over Eastern Nazarene College in the nightcap of a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) softball doubleheader on Friday afternoon (Apr. 20) at the UNE Softball Field. The Lions, behind an impressive pitching effort from Elisabeth Schaffer, blanked the Nor'easters (3-0) in the opener.

With the split, UNE moves to 16-14 overall and 9-5 in league dates. Eastern Nazarene, which is in the midst of its winningest season in program history (23-9), now stands at 12-4 in conference outings.

The Lions grabbed two hits and a run off Bessler in the top of the 1st inning in GAME 2 (UNE 2-1), with a lead-off double by Dominique Santos and an RBI-single from Lauren Clements. ENC stranded a couple in scoring position during the frame; the visitors only got one runner to second base safely the rest of the way.

Three one-out singles set the stage for Schoenbucher in the UNE 2nd. Melissa Jakubowski and Caty Flagg both pulled hits over the bag at third base, and Anna Sessa followed with a knock to left. The second out of the inning was a force at home, and then Schoenbucher sent in Flagg and Sessa with a sinking single to center to vault Big Blue in front.

That was all the run support Bessler needed to register her 16th triumph in the circle for the Nor'easters. She threw 89 pitches, fanning seven against five hits and one free pass.

Schoenbucher and Jakubowski accounted for half of the eight hits surrendered by Lions pitcher Lauren Weidler, who struck out four in the loss.

Schaffer had the edge on UNE for much of GAME 1 (ENC 3-0). Aside from a walk in the 3rd inning, the Eastern Nazarene hurler carried a no-hitter into the 6th stanza, before a two-out single to right field by UNE's Andrea Gosper broke up the bid.

Schaffer finished with 12 strikeouts for win number 13, and conceded a second hit to Schoenbucher starting the home half of the 7th.

The Lions got on the scoreboard in the 2nd with two runs, both plated on a two-out double to the left-center gap by Rebecca Ashman. After a lead-off walk and back-to-back strikeouts, Heidi Gomez kept the inning going with the first of her two singles in the contest.

Eastern Nazarene added one more in the top of the 7th on a sacrifice fly that pushed an unearned run across.

Bessler whiffed eight in the setback, while allowing four hits and four walks.

Next up: The Nor'easters get right back to work on Saturday (12 p.m.) when Gordon College comes to town.