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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- A pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th inning tipped the scale for No.6 Suffolk University to get past No.7 University of New England, 2-0, in an elimination battle [Game 1] of the 2024 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Softball Championship on Tuesday (May 7) at Golden Bear Park.

The Rams (19-22) move into the double elimination portion of the tournament, which will unfold the rest of the day and later in the week.

One year after knocking Suffolk from the postseason with a run-rule shutout, UNE's year comes to an end with an overall ledger of 12-29. The match was as tightly-contested as the regular-season split between the squads in mid-April, when the Nor'easters had rallied from a five-run deficit only to fall in extra innings (7-6) during the opener and then posted their only shutout victory of the season in the nightcap (2-0).

Following the only two 1-2-3 innings of the day in the bottom of the 5th and top of the 6th, Becky Zellin positioned the Rams for success in what proved to be the deciding frame with a leadoff double. A subsequent walk prompted a UNE pitching change from starter Cat Higgins to Mo Kinsella, but a hit-by-pitch and walk from Lily Gustafson plated the first run. Then, after a strikeout, Diana Rucinski dropped a bloop single into shallow right-center to drive in the second run. The Nor'easters managed to hold things there with a force at home and another strikeout, but the damage was done.

Two-out singles from Elise Connor and Grace Tutt kept hope alive in the UNE 7th, but Suffolk pitcher Lily Newhall fielded the final out to finish off the complete game.

The Nor'easters out-hit the Rams by a 7-6 tally and left four more on-base than their opponent (11-7). However, the only time UNE moved a runner to third base was with one away in the 1st inning, and Suffolk was able to navigate the next two plays to keep things scoreless.

The Rams had all three extra-base hits in the game -- the first two came with one away in the 1st and 2nd, respectively, off the bats of Catherine Carignan and Gustafson. UNE stranded both at third.

Connor and Tutt were the only players to record two hits between the sides, with Emma Koenig, Fiona Casey, and Abby Walsh accounting for the others. Connor also had the lone walk for the Nor'easters, and Becca Dumont earned UNE's first hit-by-pitch of the whole season. In the circle, Higgins was strong through five innings, and finished allowing five hits and two walks, while striking out three.