Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics
Photo Gallery

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Western New England University squeaked out a pair of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) softball results versus the University of New England on Wednesday (Apr.26), with a 9-8 decision (9 innings) in the opener and a 5-3 margin in the nightcap.

The Golden Bears (23-11, 11-3 CCC) received four hits and six runs batted in from Madison Mason on the day. Dina DiBlasio had a team-high six hits, in total, and Cori Rizzo added four hits.

For the Nor'easters (9-23, 6-8), Makenzy Herron put up six hits, and has now hit safely in seven straight games. Kenzie Bessette tallied four hits across the doubleheader, as her hitting streak reached 13 consecutive outings.

Western New England never trailed in a wild GAME 1 (WNEU 9-8) that went to extras tied at 6-6. After UNE left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 3rd, the Golden Bears struck first with two runs in the 4th -- an inning of just six pitches. DiBlasio led off the a double before Mason curled a two-out home run around the left field foul pole. With two away I n the 5th, another double by DiBlasio supplied two more (4-0). 

The hosts countered with three runs on four hits in their 5th to close the gap (4-3). Bessette led off with a single and scored on a double from Abby Miner; Miner was then one of two to touch home on a slicing, bloop single inside the right field line by Abby Walsh with two outs.

The Golden Bears notched two in the 6th when Mason singled and Alex Ferriouolo homered to left, however UNE responded, in kind, during the last half of the frame to knot the score at 6-all. Singles from Bessette and Herron set the stage for Miner, who belted her fifth home run of the year over the fence in left-center.

Mackenzie Susko worked through the WNEU 7th with just six pitches, only to see Ava Blanchard strike out the Nor'easters, in order, to move things into the 8th.

Mason notched an RBI-single for the visitors to make it 7-6, and then scored on a two-out RBI-single from Rizzo that caromed off Susko's leg in the circle and skipped through the left side. The Golden Bears filled the bases with free passes, but could not plate any more.

A passed ball and wild pitch scored UNE's tiebreaker runner with two gone in the bottom of the 8th. Herron kept hope alive by doubling into left-center, and Miner was intentionally walked. Grace Tutt made sure to produce in light of that decision, sending an RBI-single through the left side to level the match again (8-8).

DiBlasio singled and scored what proved to be the deciding run on a sacrifice fly in the 9th, and then Riley Kane entered the circle for Blanchard. Lindsay Joyal started the hosts off with a single, which soon became second and third (the placed runner), but Kane fanned the next two and fielded a grounder to record a save and seal the victory.

DiBlasio accounted for a game-high four hits to pace WNEU. The Golden Bears amassed 16 strikeouts of UNE batters, largely between starting pitcher Megan Beebe (8 in 5.0 innings) and winning hurler Blanchard (6 in 3.0 innings).

Miner's four-RBI game marked a season high for the Nor'easters. After Herron's three hits, Emma Koenig matched Bessette and Miner with two. Susko took the tough setback in 3.2 innings of relief for starter Kara MacDonald.

Mia Micucci was efficient out of the gate for the hosts in GAME 2 (WNEU 5-3), retiring the side with eight pitches, and immediately got support from the offense, as well. Bessette singled, stole second, and scored with a hit from Herron, who eventually came home on a groundout by Koenig. A two-out error in the 2nd allowed Jamie DuPont (single) to touch the plate and make it 3-0.

Western New England pulled even in the 4th, though. Singles from Kailey Carrano and Gracie Hemstock scored when Mason launched a deep drive to left that slipped out of the glove reaching to the top of the fence and dropped over for her second homer of the day.

With two away in the 5th, DiBlasio (double), Carrano (single), and Hemstock (single) combined to make it 4-3. Both squads had two aboard with one out in the 6th, but neither was able to convert.

After DiBlasio's fourth double of the twinbill to begin the 7th, Carrano's third single of the contest padded the cushion to 5-3. UNE's second 6-4-3 double-play helped keep the margin at two heading into its last chance.

Beebe, who entered in relief of Kane for the last two innings, issued a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 7th but rebounded by striking out the next two. An error left runners at the corners, before a groundout ended the threat.

Herron shared the game-high of three hits for the Nor'easters, who received 4.2 innings in the circle from Micucci before Susko worked the rest of the way.

Next: UNE heads for Roger Williams University on Saturday.