Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- McKenna Smith pitched 10 scoreless innings to help Husson University defeat the University of New England by scores of 4-0 and 6-3 in softball action Saturday afternoon (Mar. 26) at Nor'easter Diamond.

After two weeks between games, the Eagles improve to 7-5 overall. The Nor'easters will carry their 5-9 ledger into a Sunday twinbill at the University of Southern Maine.

Smith went the distance in GAME 1 (HU 4-0), fanning 13 and allowing five base runners for UNE. The hosts put singles in play during the 1st and 7th, and had two on with one away in the 2nd, but were unable to progress any past second base.

All the run support she needed came with two out in the top of the 1st inning, as Husson ended up sending eight batters to the plate in the frame. A double by Meagan Gosselin kept the at-bat going with a double, and Brianne McCabe followed with an RBI-single. After a hit from Madelyn Fowler, Whitney Bess doubled to make it 2-0, and then Katie Windsor guided a two-run single up the middle.

The Eagles were primed for more in the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, but left runners in scoring position each time.

Windsor totaled three hits for the visitors, and Kenzie Dore recorded a couple.

Becca Dumont and Abby Miner accounted for the UNE hits off Smith. Kate Wilmot absorbed the setback in the circle, striking out three.

Dore had the first of three hits for Husson in the top of the 1st in GAME 2 (HU 6-3), and scored on a McCabe single for an early lead.

However, Sami Groves touched home for the Nor'easters in the last half of the inning, and then UNE moved ahead (2-1) in the 2nd. A two-out infield single by Audrey Gavin was immediately followed by an error, and then a miscue on the next play allowed her to round the bases.

A couple UNE errors in the 3rd contributed to three runs for the Eagles prior to the initial out of the stanza. Dore notched her second hit and eventually crossed home again, in between run-scoring hits from Bess and Fowler.

A lead-off single from Abby Walsh and two-out double by Groves got one back in the UNE 4th (4-3), only to see Husson extend the gap with two in the 5th. Dore scored for a third time when Fowler slotted a two-out triple into right-center, and the ensuing single from Erin Bonenfant plated Fowler.

That's when Smith re-entered the circle for the visitors, in relief of starter Jill Bisson, who yielded seven hits over four innings. Smith struck out five and only conceded one walk the rest of the way to earn the save.

Jordan Strum tallied four strikeouts over seven innings of work for the Nor'easters, and surrendered four earned runs. Alie Martell had a team-high two hits in the game.