Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- The University of New England scored four times with two away in the top of the 7th inning on big hits by Delaney Whitten and Adrianna Carsetti to flip a deficit into a 6-4 victory in the opener of a Conference of New England (CNE) softball doubleheader at the UH Softball Complex on Sunday (Apr. 26). The Hawks responded by overcoming the Nor'easters twice to take the second match, 9-7.

The Nor'easters (14-18, 8-10 CNE) remain in contention for the last postseason spot heading into the final weekend, with a Saturday twinbill at home against Wentworth Institute of Technology (9-9 CNE). Suffolk University (9-9 CNE) is also in the mix.

During the first part of the afternoon, Hannah Irons became the 25th player in program history to reach 100 career hits for UNE. The junior shortstop has hit safely in seven straight outings, amounting to a .667 average, which has raised her overall efficiency some 76 points to .320 on the year.

The visitors held the edge in total hits on the day, 21-17, which included four apiece by Irons, Emma Michaud, and Carsetti. Fiona Casey added three -- highlighted by her first collegiate home run -- and both Zofia Twarog and Hannah Lappin had two.

Hartford (18-16), which is now done with CNE dates at 11-9, received four hits apiece from Alina Weaver and Alyssa Murphy.

UNE will first travel to Plymouth State University on Thursday for some non-league action.

The Nor'easters trailed by a 3-2 margin entering the final at-bat of regulation in GAME 1 (UNE 6-4), before the third hits of the contest by Irons and Michaud put two on with one out. Following the second out, Whitten came through with a double to the left-center gap -- her second hit -- plating both Irons and Michaud for the lead. Carsetti then delivered two vital insurance runs, clocking her team-leading fourth homer over the fence in left.

An unearned run, scored by a sacrifice fly, was all the Hawks could get back as Kara MacDonald wrapped up her fifth win in the circle.

After five combined were left on base in the 1st inning, consecutive two-out singles by Lappin, Irons, and Michaud got UNE on the board, only to see back-to-back two-out doubles by Taylor Fitch and Weaver flip Hartford in front (2-1) the next time up. Irons' 100th tied things at 2-2 with two gone in the 4th.

Two walks and a single restored the edge for Hartford in the 6th, but starting pitcher Carly Mayhood could not hold it. Mayhood fanned eight in 6.2 innings.

The good momentum UNE found late in the opener carried right into GAME 2 (HART 9-7), as the Nor'easters notched four runs in the top of the 1st. The second double of the day by Irons started things off, and she soon scored on an error. With two away, Carsetti doubled to make it 2-0, and then Casey cracked one over the wall in left to double the cushion.

The initial frame turned into a marathon, though, as the Hawks paired three hits and two walks to bring it back level at 4-4. Edwards had an RBI-double and Ella Zobel produced a two-run single in the stanza.

Gia Miccio had a two-out RBI-triple to slide the hosts in front in the 2nd. Another double by Edwards had Hartford primed for more in the 3rd, until Lizzie Brytowski, Casey, and Whitten connected for a double-play on the infield.

With a couple down in the 4th, Lappin doubled and Irons walked, and both were then in scoring position for a Michaud single to vault UNE ahead, 6-5.

The back-and-forth affair continued in the bottom of the 5th when Edwards plated two with a single, following three free passes. It could've been worse for the Nor'easters, if not for a flyout to Lappin in center field that became an inning-ending double-play with Whitten at the plate.

The advantage was padded to 9-6 in the 6th with a two-out single by Miccio, giving her four RBI in the game. UNE received the fourth homer of the season from Twarog to cut into the margin in the 7th, and Carsetti and Casey registered two-out singles to increase the threat, only to have it all end on the next pitch.

Gracie Hopkins pitched well in relief for the Hawks to get the win, while Brytowski took the setback in 3.1 innings as the second of three UNE pitchers.