Statistics

BEVERLY, Mass. -- Endicott College racked up 16 hits but needed to survive a rocky top of the 7th inning to secure a 9-6 Conference of New England (CNE) softball decision against the University of New England on Wednesday (Apr. 1) at the EC Softball Complex. The day was originally scheduled to be a doubleheader, but weather rolled in and forced game two to be postponed to a later date.

As rain began to fall, the Gulls (8-7, 3-0 CNE) led by six entering UNE's last chance. A one-out walk prompted the end of the line for Endicott starting Kristen Beebe, who was 114 pitches deep, but then an error and double by Emma Michaud gave the Nor'easters (6-7, 2-3) a little life. While the second out followed, Tess Bolduc stepped in and singled to get the visitors two more runs. Adrianna Carsetti walked to keep the rally alive, bringing the potential tying run to the dish, but then a shallow fly to center was caught to thwart the comeback.

Five EC players had multiple hits in the contest, including Ella Tower and Ava Kelley with three apiece; Tower also plated a pair, and Kelley scored three times. Catherine Seay tallied two hits, two RBI, and three runs. Beebe recorded 14 of 19 outs by strikeout.

Two RBI-singles by Tower and a solo homer by Seay had the hosts with a 3-0 lead through two frames, but that deficit was erased by UNE in the 3rd, with two down, on the first home run of the season by rookie Zofia Twarog. Delaney Whitten singled and Hannah Irons doubled to score on the play.

The Gulls answered with two runs in the bottom of the 3rd, though, and tacked on two more in the 4th for a 7-3 advantage.

While the Nor'easters registered 10 less hits than Endicott, a one-out double by Carsetti in the 6th helped UNE finish with four extra-base connections to the Gulls' five.

UNE is next scheduled to entertain Suffolk University on Saturday (12 p.m.).