Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Western New England University held off a 7th-inning University of New England rally for a narrow win in the opener, and then overcame two deficits in the nightcap to finish off a doubleheader sweep (4-3, 8-5) in the Conference of New England (CNE) softball opener on Wednesday (Mar. 25) at Golden Bear Park.
The Golden Bears (6-8, 2-0) -- the reigning league champs -- received two hits apiece from Angelees Carrasquillo, Ava Barnhart, and Shea McDaniel on the day, while Carrasquillo and McDaniel combined for seven RBI. Katherine Brooks scored four times, and Riley Kane had 10 strikeouts in a complete-game effort to begin the twinbill.
The Nor'easters (4-6, 0-2 CNE) out-hit the hosts by three in both games, but also stranded five additional runners between the contests.
Emma Michaud extended her season-long hitting streak to 10 games, which is a career-best for the junior. Michaud and
Tess Bolduc each provided three RBI over the course of the afternoon.
Hannah Irons and
Zofia Twarog joined Michaud with hits in both games; for Twarog, she has now reached base in eight straight outings.
After UNE left a lead-off double at third base in the top of the 1st inning in
GAME 1 (WNEU 4-3), Western New England did all of its damage during the 2nd frame, starting with a two-run double by McDaniel.
In the UNE circle,
Kara MacDonald held the hosts in-check the rest of the way, retiring 12 of the final 13 (the other reached on an error). The senior finished with six strikeouts against four hits and a pair of walks.
The Nor'easters made noise in their last chance, with a single from
Elise Connor and the second hit of the match by
Hannah Lappin. With two away, Michaud launched her second career home run to slice the margin to one. UNE got an infield single on the next play, but could not turn it into the tying run.
Twarog gave the visitors an early edge in
GAME 2 (WNEU 8-5), with the first of two hits to plate a leadoff single by Irons. The Nor'easters got two runners into scoring position in the 2nd, but weren't able to extend the lead.
Barnhart registered a two-run double for WNEU in the bottom of the 2nd, only to see UNE answer with a couple in the 3rd for a 3-2 cushion. Two walks and an RBI-double from Bolduc tied things, before a groundout by
Adrianna Carsetti scored Bolduc.
However, the Golden Bears assembled a four-run 4th with two outs, starting with an RBI-double by McDaniel. Following a walk, Carrasquillo cleared the bases with a double to vault the hosts to a 6-3 advantage.
Bolduc chipped into the gap with another two-bagger in the 5th, scoring Irons and Twarog to trim it to 6-5, but a two-run shot by Katherine Brooks in the next half-inning restored the three-run lead for WNEU.
Sophia Keays fanned three in two innings of work to collect the relief win for the Golden Bears, and Kaylin Herffern secured the save.
The multi-hit game was the first for both Twarog and Bolduc.
Mo Kinsella took the setback in 3.2 innings for the Nor'easters.
Next up will be UNE's home opener on Saturday (12 p.m.) against Nichols College.
