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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Hannah Irons delivered a two-run double into the right-center gap in the bottom of the 7th to cap a 4-3 comeback triumph for the University of New England over Nichols College in the first game of a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) softball doubleheader at Nor'easter Diamond on Sunday afternoon (Apr. 28). The Bison then overcame an early deficit to take the second match, 3-1.

With the results of the day around the league, the Nor'easters (11-25, 6-10 CCC) will have a spot in the upcoming postseason tournament, which starts on May 7.

Olivia Howe had four hits on the afternoon for the hosts, while Erin Gour led all players with five hits and three runs batted in for the Bison. NC also received three hits out of Ava Slavinsky.

Nichols (currently 21-17 overall) heads into the playoffs at 10-6 in conference outings; the other four squads in the top five of the standings each have two games remaining next Saturday to sort out the championship seeds.

UNE found itself in a 3-0 hole through two frames in GAME 1 (UNE 4-3), after two-out runs plated by Gour, Emily Iannuccilli, and Slavinsky. The Nor'easters got one back in the 3rd, though, as a two-out single from Emma Michaud was followed up by Howe with a right-center field double.

The hosts, who turned to Kara MacDonald for the final five innings in the circle, worked around leadoff hits by Nichols in the 5th and 6th innings to stay within striking distance. In between (bottom 5th), the Nor'easters closed the gap to 3-2, as Irons tripled to the wall in right-center and scored on the ensuing groundout by Michaud.

A one-out error gave UNE life in its last chance, and then Becca Dumont picked up her second hit to put two aboard. In stepped Irons, who navigated the longest at-bat of the entire day (8 pitches) before providing the walk-off smack [Watch].



MacDonald scattered four hits without any walk on the way to her third positive pitching decision in as many appearances. Offensively, Howe (2 doubles) and Abby Walsh joined Irons and Dumont with two hits apiece.

It was the second time this season that UNE won the first game during a day of competition.

Cassidy Machado, who took the relief loss on the Nichols side in the opener, drew the start in GAME 2 (NC 3-1) and went toe-to-toe with UNE's Cat Higgins for five innings. Higgins registered the first strikeout of whole afternoon during a 1-2-3 top of the 1st. The Nor'easters really tested Machado to the tune of 32 pitches in the last half of the stanza -- after a walk and double-play, singles from Howe and Grace Tutt and then walks by Delaney Whitten and Elise Connor put the home squad up, 1-0.

The Bison countered with two away in the 3rd, with two hits and a walk, ahead of a two-RBI single by Gour to flip the advantage (2-1). With the lead, Machado survived UNE putting two in scoring position in the 4th.

The 6th had plenty of action but both teams managed to emerge unscathed. MacDonald entered the game for the hosts and immediately yielded two hits, including Gour's third of the contest (double). However, once a fielder's choice filled the bases, a liner to Tutt at third base turned into a double play that also removed the runner who was standing 60 feet from padding the Nichols cushion. When it came time for UNE's swings, hits by Tutt and Whitten prompted the return of the Bison game one starter, Olivia Pedro, who soon managed to escape a bases-loaded, one-out situation to retain the edge on the scoreboard.

With two gone in the 7th, the second hit (double) by Mary Jo-Laudati and single from Allie Silliman provided a hint of insurance for the visitors (3-1). Howe's second hit -- to match Tutt -- kept things alive for the Nor'easters with two out in bottom of the inning, but UNE could not replicate its game-one theatrics.

Higgins, who is still working back from being sidelined for over a year, tossed a season-high 77 pitches and racked up five strikeouts in the setback. The other 10 outs during her time in the circle where all groundouts, of which she fielded five herself.

Next up: the Nor'easters are slated for non-conference road trips to Plymouth State University (Wednesday) and Husson University (Saturday) to conclude the regular season.