ccc
Ashley Bussell
0
Univ. of New England UNE 12-27
7
Winner Wentworth WIT 27-12-1
Univ. of New England UNE
12-27
0
Final
7
Wentworth WIT
27-12-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Univ. of New England UNE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
Wentworth WIT 0 0 5 0 2 0 X 7 10 1

W: Erin Hancock (13-9) L: MacDonald, Kara (6-10)

Game Recap: Softball |

Leopards knock UNE out of CCC tourney, 7-0

Statistics

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- A five-run 3rd inning propelled No.3 Wentworth Institute of Technology to a 7-0 result versus No.6 University of New England in an elimination match [Game 5B] of the 2023 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Softball Championship on Thursday afternoon (May 11) at Golden Bear Park.

The Leopards (27-12-1) advance to face unbeaten host Western New England University, needing two wins to reach the tournament final best-of-3 series. The No.2 Golden Bears only need one win to book a spot in the title round. [Bracket]

For the Nor'easters, the season concludes with a record of 12-27.

The teams were even with 10 hits apiece on the day, but WIT consolidated seven into the 3rd to seize control. After loaded the bases with singles, and an out at the plate, Alexandra Pina put the first dent in the scoreboard with a two-run double. Kyla Igawa and Jess Rowe followed with RBI-singles, and the second out of the frame allowed one more to cross.

The Leopards got their other two runs in the 5th, behind Igawa (double) and Rowe (home run). Aside from those innings, UNE posted three defensive stands without allowing a baserunner.

Erin Hancock struck out three while surrendering eight hits over five innings to secure the pitching decision.

The Nor'easters filled the bags with a pair of two-out singles in the top of the 2nd, but were unable to convert. Kenzie Bessette -- who led all players with three singles, all as the leadoff in the stanza -- twice (1st and 5th) stood on second with one away and third with two down, but could not make it the last 60 feet. In the 7th, Bessette made it to second on the second out. It was Bessette's sixth three-hit outing of the season.

Emma Koenig added a couple of singles for UNE. Abby Walsh added an infield single to finish the year with a team-best active hitting streak of seven games. Grace Tutt had the lone extra-base hit with a two-out double in the 3rd. Kara MacDonald took the setback in the circle, giving up five runs through 2.1 innings, and Mia Micucci fanned two the rest of the way.