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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England constructed a seven-run cushion through four innings but went right down to the wire before securing an 8-7 softball victory over Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Friday afternoon (Mar. 29) at Nor'easter Diamond.

UNE pulls its record even at 7-7 on the season, entering Saturday's Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener against Curry College in Biddeford. The Monks drop to 2-10 overall.

Caroline Schoenbucher went 3-for-3 at the top of the lineup for the Nor'easters, with three runs scored. Avery Alberghini increased her hitting streak to 12 games (12 played), going 2-for-2 with two RBI and a couple runs at the plate. Taylor Depot upped her team-leading RBI total to 14 with a pair of run-scoring groundouts. Kate Wilmot worked five frames to get the pitching win, surrendering five hits without any free passes.

With things tied at 1-1, UNE poured on five runs in the bottom of the 3rd to seize control. Schoenbucher started with a triple to the center field wall, and an infield hit by Alberghini put the hosts ahead for good. It was 3-1 with two away when Meg Harvey notched her second single to score another, which was not long before Anna Sessa put an RBI-single into right to make it 6-1.

Schoenbucher's third hit began the 4th and Alberghini followed with a triple of her own, and when Alberghini scored on the ensuing play, the margin was 8-1.

The Nor'easters were one out away from getting through the 6th with that advantage until an error kept the inning going and two runs scored in the process. A single, two walks, and a wild pitch later, and SJC had closed the deficit to 8-5.

Madisyn Charest made it 8-6 with her third hit of contest in the 7th, and scored for the third time on a pinch-hit single by Kaylee Burns to cut the gap to one. But UNE's Jordan Strum struck out the next batter to register a save for the second time in as many days.

Meghan Elliott matched Charest with three hits for the Monks. Emily Jefferds had a couple singles, and Grace Chabourne recorded an RBI-double that put the initial run on the board for the visitors. Caitlyn King took the loss in the circle.