Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics
Photos

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England plated five runs in the bottom of the 6th to regain the lead against Saint Joseph's College of Maine on the way to a 9-4 softball victory in the nightcap and a split of Wednesday's (Mar. 29) doubleheader at Nor'easter Diamond. The Monks won a low-scoring affair in the opener, 2-1.

The Nor'easters are now 3-13 on the season, while SJC moves to 6-8.

UNE struck for two runs right away in GAME 2 (UNE 9-4), as Kenzie Bessette singled on the infield, stole both second and third, and scored on a hit by Abby Miner. Three plays later, a groundout by Megan Chamberlain was enough to plate Becca Dumont for the first time.

The Monks countered with three in the 3rd to briefly take the lead (3-2), capped by an RBI-single from Rylee Page. The visitors left the bases full and that proved costly, as UNE immediately answered with two in the last half of the inning to get back in front. There were two away when back-to-back singles from Jamie DuPont and Makenzy Herron knocked in runs.

A two-out RBI-single from Abbie Green-Sermak pulled SJC even in the 6th, only to see the Nor'easters respond with five unearned runs minutes later. The second out of the UNE 6th was a bases-loaded groundout from Lindsay Joyal, providing the go-ahead tally (5-4), before a two-run single by Chamberlain and two-run double from DuPont extended the cushion. DuPont's knock into left-center was the only extra-base hit for the hosts.

Kara MacDonald, with the assistance of the defense behind her, retired the three SJC batters in the 7th to wrap up the complete-game victory. She fanned three while improving to 2-4 on the year.

DuPont (2-for-2) was joined by Bessette and Miner with two hits for the Nor'easters.

For the Monks, Emily Eagleston suffered the loss in the circle, in relief of starter Sydney Hatch, who had three strikeouts through four frames. Lydia Goodnough and Abby Carpenter accounted for half of the team's eight hits.

UNE took an early edge in GAME 1 (SJC 2-1), as well, when Bessette turned a lead-off bunt single into a run on a two-out, bases-loaded walk by Chamberlain.

However, the home side left five runners on base over the first two innings. Then, in the 3rd, Saint Joseph's received an RBI-triple to right from Olivia Howe, followed by a run-scoring groundout, to flip the margin in its favor.

The Nor'easters worked out of some sticky situations down the stretch, stranding two SJC runners in both the 5th and 6th to keep the deficit at one. In its last chance, UNE filled the bases without a hit, but could not convert.

Meredith Pence picked up the result for St. Joe's, striking out five while scattering three hits and six free passes. Howe had the lone multi-hit outing for either squad.

Mia Micucci took the setback for UNE, fanning three around five hits and four walks.