Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England softball team batted a whopping .509 and pounded out nine extra-base hits on the way to victories of 19-11 (5 innings) and 5-4 over Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Monday's (Apr. 21) doubleheader at Nor'easter Diamond. The nightcap ended in walk-off fashion with a two-run double by Fiona Casey.

The offensive outburst of 19 runs and 20 hits in the opener were the most by a Nor'easter squad since 2014. UNE's season highs entering the day were seven runs and 11 hits. The program's inning-by-inning scoring was first tracked in 2002, and the 12-spot generated in the 3rd frame tied for the highest over the past 23 years (nine have reached double digits).

Emma Michaud had two hits in each contest to improve to a team-best eight multi-hit outings for the Nor'easters (9-21). Delaney Whitten, Abby Walsh, and Hannah Lappin notched hits in both matches, as well, while Walsh supplied her first five RBI of the season to lead all players on the day. Emma Koenig and Elise Connor each made their one appearance count, with three hits apiece at the dish and a couple of runs scored.

UNE is next in action on Thursday (3 p.m.) when Western New England University stops by for a Conference of New England twinbill.

For the Monks (13-19), Chantelle Bouchard had a pair of hits in each game. Sylvia Foley matched that total with four overall, and Madison Pelletier added three.

The visitors took advantage of two UNE miscues to grab a big lead in the 1st inning of GAME 1 (UNE 19-11), scoring five unearned runs, including a two-out, bases-loaded double from Anna Gilbert. UNE got two right back in the bottom of the 1st, with RBI-doubles from Jadyn Kimball and Whitten. 

The deficit was 6-4 entering the home half of the 3rd, when the Nor'easters sent 15 batters up and tallied 10 runs with two outs to surge ahead, 16-6. After eight singles and three free passes, first-year Grace Riva lashed her first home run -- a three-run shot -- over the fence in center. [Watch]

St. Joe's chipped back and forced UNE to bat in the 5th, with the margin at 17-11, but it wasn't long before Hannah Irons singled to drive in Riva for the run-rule win. [Watch]

Riva became the seventh player over the past nine years for go 4-for-4 at the plate -- joining Irons from last season as the only rookies to do so over that span. Riva's nine total bases were the most in a game since 2014, the four runs scored were the most since 2017, and the three extra-base hits (the homer and two doubles) were the most since 2019.

Walsh finished 2-for-2, and her four RBI hadn't been accomplished in UNE's previous 61 contests. Michaud matched matched Riva's three RBI, as did Whitten, who was 3-for-3 in the batter's box. Walsh and Irons both touched home plate three times. Irons and Koenig both tacked on three hits; Koenig has reached base safely in eight consecutive games.

Mo Kinsella surrendered three earned runs over four frames to record her first positive pitching outcome of the season. In a game filled with offense, defensive plays from Irons [Watch] and Riva [Watch] helped keep UNE on the correct side of the score line.

Pelletier took the loss in the circle for the Monks, but contributed two hits in as many at-bats as part of the batting lineup. Foley went 3-for-3, and Makayla Quintal supplied two hits and a team-high three runs. Bouchard drove in runs with each of her singles.

Aside from a Sadie Tirrell RBI-double for SJC in the top of the 3rd in GAME 2 (UNE 5-4), UNE's Kara MacDonald efficiently worked through 5.1 innings with 51 of 72 pitches in the strike zone. MacDonald exited with the lead (2-1), thanks to a two-run single by Lappin with two gone in the Nor'easter 4th. [Watch]

Riva also provided three tough snags in left field to help keep the Monks in-check along the way [Watch 1 / 2 / 3]. Both squads had chances in the 6th; UNE relief pitcher Cat Higgins entered with two on and one out, but fielded a groundout and then fanned the next one to elude trouble [Watch]. The Nor'easters put the first two aboard in their turn, only to leave the bases full.

In the 7th, the visitors scored three times to shift in front (4-2). Tirrell grounded out to tie things up on the second out, before Bouchard came through with an RBI-single inside the left field line and Foley landed a triple on the right field boundary. UNE relief pitcher Cat Higgins caught the ensuing batter looking at strike three, though, to hold the margin at two.

The Nor'easters answered right back, with a trio of infield singles and a Walsh sacrifice fly -- the second out -- to make it 4-3. That set the stage for Casey, who navigated out of an 0-2 count to then drill a bases-clearing double into the left-center gap. Connor, who went 3-for-3 with a double at the plate, started the play at first base and had just enough time to slide home safely with the winning run. [Watch]

Higgins improved to 5-5 with the pitching win for UNE. One of the two hits by Michaud in the contest was the furthest for the hosts -- a two-out triple in the 3rd.

Reliever Paige Connery was unable to maintain the edge for St. Joe's in the loss. Bouchard's two hits were equaled by Charlotte Cloutier, who scored two of the runs for the guests.