Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics
Photos

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Consecutive RBI-singles from Kenzie Bessette and Makenzy Herron in the bottom of the 8th inning lifted the University of New England softball team to an 11-10 victory over Salve Regina University in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Thursday evening (Apr. 6) at Nor'easter Diamond. The Seahawks took the opener of the doubleheader, 8-0, in six innings.

The Nor'easters (4-16, 1-3 CCC) overcame a six-run deficit for their first league win in the nightcap, while sending SRU (9-11, 3-1) to its first CCC loss.

Salve Regina plated five in the top of the 5th in GAME 2 (UNE 11-10) to gain a 9-3 advantage, only to see UNE chip right back into the gap with three runs on an identical nine batters. The Nor'easters paired hits from Grace Tutt, Abby Walsh (RBI), and Becca Dumont (RBI) with three free passes, but also left the bases loaded.

After erasing a one-out single in the Seahawks' 6th with a line-out double-play, the hosts closed to within one (9-8) in the last half of the frame by drawing five walks, including three with two away. Dumont and Bessette drove in runs with theirs, and again, the bases were left full.

The Nor'easters got out of the SRU 7th with a line-out double-play by the middle infield for a third straight inning, which then set the stage for Abby Miner, who led off UNE's last chance with a solo blast to straightaway center [Watch]. It was Miner's fourth homer of the season, and knotted the game at 9-all.

Salve converted in the 8th with the tiebreaker runner starting on second base, getting an RBI-single through the right side by Morgan Bello. UNE sacrificed its placed runner to third, before a walk and steal by Dumont put two in scoring position. Bessette laced a single to left to plate Emma Koenig with the equalizing run, and then Herron clubbed one into the left-center gap to score Dumont with the deciding tally [Watch].

Bessette and Herron both had three hits and three RBI in the contest. Miner, Tutt, and Walsh all registered two hits. Mackenzie Susko earned the win in the circle, going 3.2 innings of relief while allowing six hits and zero walks.

None of UNE's three pitchers issued a free pass, as opposed to the Seahawks, who doled out 10. Caroline Peterson took the loss in her second decision of the day; she fanned four over the final 3.1 innings, but was unable to hold onto the 9-4 lead.

SRU totaled six hits in the 2nd frame and netted the first four runs, courtesy of two-run hits from both Sophia Strazza and Sam Franceschi. Another six hits powered the five-run 5th, including four doubles from Kylie Lanteri, Gabriella Messier (pinch hit/RBI), Maddie Capetta (2 RBI), and Strazza (RBI). Capetta finished with a team-high three of Salve's 17 hits.

Peterson yielded few opportunities to the Nor'easters in GAME 1 (SRU 8-0), striking out nine against two hits and four walks over six innings.

A couple of RBI-doubles by Capetta and Francesca Rubino in the 2nd gave the Seahawks a 2-0 edge, however Mia Micucci and the UNE defense held things steady into the 5th. Dumont snagged the third out of the 3rd with a full-sprint dive into the right-center gap [Watch].

There were two away in the 5th before Salve Regina added three more runs with four hits and a pair of steals. Bello, with an RBI-single, and Lanteri's two-run double, provided the scoring. Then a two-run single from Rubino pushed the margin to seven prior to the first out of the 6th.

Tutt and Koenig accounted for UNE's singles off Peterson. After Koenig's hit to start the 5th, she made it to third base with one gone, but the Nor'easters couldn't cash in.

Micucci took the setback following 4.2 innings of work in the circle. She struck out four against one walk and six hits, conceding four earned runs.

Next: UNE gets right back to it on Friday with a league twinbill at Suffolk University.