Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics
Photos

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Elise Connor drove in three runs and Cat Higgins fanned seven as the University of New England secured a 3-1 victory over Thomas College in game two of Wednesday's (Apr. 9) softball doubleheader at Nor'easter Diamond. The Terriers narrowly took the opener, 2-1.

Delaney Whitten joined Connor with three total hits on the day for the Nor'easters (6-14), who are back in action against Conference of New England foe Suffolk University on Thursday (3 p.m.). Connor has reached base in all nine outings since returning to the lineup, and Whitten tops UNE with a .340 batting average on the year.

Megan Oberholzer tallied four hits for Thomas (7-12) to lead all players on the afternoon.

Connor gave the hosts an early advantage in GAME 2 (UNE 3-1), slashing a two-out double to right-center in the 1st frame that scored Emma Michaud and Whitten.

The Terriers got one back with a bases-loaded groundout in the top of the 3rd. UNE had a look to pad the cushion in the 4th, when Emma Koenig laced the first of her two hits in the contest and stole second to put two in scoring position with one away, but a strikeout and groundout ended the threat.

The Nor'easters did capitalize in the 5th, though, with a trio of two-out hits. Jadyn Kimball launched the second of two hits into the right-center gap (double), Whitten singled to deep short, and Connor hit a hard ball up the middle to allow Kimball to come around and make it 3-1.

With the help of two diving snags on lineouts by Grace Riva in left and Connor in right, Higgins worked safely through the 6th. Oberholzer dropped a one-out double on the left field line in the 7th and the visitors put the tying run aboard, as well, but Higgins ultimately left the final out staring at strike three to seal her fourth pitching result of the season. The grad student retired the first batter of each inning, which helped navigate the 11 Terrier runners who were stranded on the bases.

Oberholzer accounted for three of the eight hits by the Terriers. Brooklyn Federico took the loss in the circle.

A bunt single by Federico in the 2nd inning of GAME 1 (THO 2-1) started the play that gave Thomas a 1-0 lead. Emily Rock stood on second after a ground-rule double, and was nearly at third already when the throw was released towards first base. Then Rock's aggressive base-running just barely beat the tag at the plate.

Oberholzer added one in the 5th with a two-out single into left-center, only to see the Nor'easters counter with one in the bottom of the stanza (2-1). Consecutive bunt singles by Nola Boutaugh and Hannah Lappin, aided by an error, moved Boutaugh around to score on a groundout by Hannah Irons. UNE was primed for more, with Lappin 60 feet away and one out, but a liner to Rock at third became a double-play to end the inning.

The second hits of the match by Whitten (6th) and Lappin (7th) provided tying opportunities, but the hosts could not convert. The Nor'easters, who led by a 9-6 margin in hits, also got two from Irons, including a double.

Oberholzer struck out six against zero walks to get the positive result for the Terriers, while UNE's Kara MacDonald also whiffed six in the hard-fought setback.