ccc
David Bates Photo
0
Suffolk SUF 10-24
8
Winner U. of New England UNE 12-26
Suffolk SUF
10-24
0
Final
8
U. of New England UNE
12-26
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Suffolk SUF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
U. of New England UNE 2 1 1 0 2 2 8 10 0

W: Micucci, Mia (4-13) L: A. Brandow (6-9)

Game Recap: Softball |

Nor'easters blank Suffolk, 8-0, to remain in CCC tournament

Statistics

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Mia Micucci pitched six shutout innings and received plenty of early offensive support as sixth-seeded University of New England defeated seventh seed Suffolk University by an 8-0 margin (6 innings) in an elimination contest [Game 4B] of the 2023 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Softball Championship at Golden Bear Park on Wednesday afternoon (May 10).

The Nor'easters (12-26) advance into a rematch with No.3 Wentworth Institute of Technology on Thursday (2 p.m.), with elimination again on the line [Game 5B]. The Leopards rallied to narrowly top UNE earlier in the day (3-2), before falling in extras to host Western New England University (4-3).

Micucci picked up her fourth win of the season, fanning two against just two hits and two walks. Over her last 17 innings of work, Micucci has allowed 10 hits, two free passes, and only one earned run.

After a 4-6-3 double-play moved the Nor'easters out of the top of the 1st inning, four hits amounted to a 2-0 lead when Grace Tutt produced a two-run single. A one-out double from the Rams' Catherine Carignan in the 2nd put a couple in scoring position, however, Micucci got popout and groundout to maintain the advantage.

It was 3-0 heading to the last half of the 3rd, when singles from Abby Walsh and Jamie DuPont set the stage for a two-out infield single by Makenzy Herron that added another run (4-0). Herron had previously singled and scored in the 1st.

Kenzie Bessette (3-for-3 and a walk) upped the spread to 6-0 with two out in the 5th, driving her second home run of the afternoon/season over the center field wall. Then Megan Chamberlain capped things in the 6th with a walk-off, two-run blast of her own -- the first of her year.

The No.2 Golden Bears and No.1 Endicott College remained unbeaten on day one of the tournament. On the other half of the bracket, with the Gulls, No.4 Nichols College and No.8 Gordon College will face a similar elimination situation on Thursday. No.5 Salve Regina University joined Suffolk (10-24) as knocked out of the competition.

Ava Brandow surrendered 10 hits and four walks in the loss for the Rams.