Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Suffolk University used a trio of big innings over the course of the day to separate from the University of New England and pick up two Conference of New England (CNE) results, 11-3 (6 innings) and 6-4, at Nor'easter Diamond on Thursday (Apr. 10).

Hits were even at 19-all on the afternoon, but the Rams (8-10, 2-0 CNE) drew all five walks and had 10 extra-base hits to the six by UNE. Catherine Carignan and Julia Mills paced Suffolk with four hits, and Lily Newhall had three. 

For the Nor'easters (6-16, 0-6), who entertain the University of Hartford on Friday (3 p.m.), Hannah Irons led the way with four hits and both Hannah Lappin and Jadyn Kimball added three.

UNE, playing as the visiting team, got off to a fast start in GAME 1 (SUF 11-3) with two runs in the top of the 1st inning. The third single of the frame was by Elise Connor, knocking in Irons and Kimball. Irons then made it 3-0 in the 2nd, following Lappin's two-out triple to right-center with a single.

Suffolk got one back in the 2nd with just an error, and Carignan tied things (3-3) in the 3rd with a two-run homer to left-center.

The first five batters of the Rams' 4th reached safely, leading to four runs. Doubles by Newhall and Ella Turnbull, the first of two hits in as many at-bats by Diana Rucinski, and a Carignan double accounted for the knocks in the session. A leadoff triple into the right field corner from Lily Gustafson in the 5th was kept off of the board by UNE with a look-back groundout and two Liv Arvidson strikeouts, but Suffolk came back up in the 6th and plated four to end it early (11-3). Carignan's third hit produced a fourth RBI, Jolie Quintana notched a two-run double, and Newhall doubled again to send Quintana around with the clincher.

Newhall was also in the circle and settled in after yielding six hits through two innings, surrendering just two the rest of the way while finishing with five strikeouts.

Mo Kinsella took the setback for UNE in three-plus frames of work.

A five-spot in the bottom of the 1st in GAME 2 (SUF 6-4) fueled the Rams throughout. Turnbull provided a two-run single with the bases loaded, and then Newhall added two more with a double. The sixth hit -- a two-out RBI-double by Ava Brandow, capped the inning.

The Nor'easters were on the verge of getting something back in the second, with two opening hits and then a third with two away, but left the bases full. Emma Michaud tripled to the wall in center to start the 3rd, but was tagged out at home trying to take advantage of a loose ball on the second part of the play.

UNE did put two runs on the scoreboard in the 5th, with doubles by Lappin and Irons and a single from Kimball.

The third hit in three chances by Mills -- a two-out double -- padded the Suffolk cushion (6-2) in the last half of the 5th.

The Nor'easters chipped away some more in the 6th, taking an error and adding a ground-rule double by Emma Koenig -- her second hit of the contest. After a sac fly by Fiona Casey, Chloe Whitten came through with a pinch-hit single through the right side that managed to score Koenig and trim the deficit to two. The only double-play of the day for either side came next, though, keeping things at 6-4.

After a two-out double by Kimball in the 7th, bringing the potential tying run to the dish, a deep fly to right was tracked down for the final out.

Cynthia Rucinski tossed 113 pitches in the win for the Rams. Her counterpart, UNE's Kara MacDonald, only allowed two hits and one free pass following the initial inning. Patrolling left field, Grace Riva supported MacDonald with a full diving catch on a sinking liner in the 6th.

Connor had a hit in the nightcap, as well, to extend her reached base streak to 11 games.