BIDDEFORD — The University of New England softball team fell behind early but scored nine unanswered runs to capture (9-2) the nightcap of a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader with Nichols College on Saturday afternoon at the UNE Softball Field. The Bison needed eight innings to clip the Nor’easters in the opener, 3-2.
The split keeps UNE (13-13, 6-4 CCC) in front of NC (11-10-1, 4-5-1 CCC) in the conference standings with eight games over the next week remaining in the schedule.
Meg Harvey led the rally in GAME 2 (UNE 9-2), going 3-for-3 with a walk. The first of her two doubles brought the Nor’easters to within 2-1 in the third inning, and she touched home on a sacrifice fly later in the frame to give the hosts a lead for good at 3-2. The score was 5-2 entering the 6th, when the rookie stepped up and cracked a solo home run over the fence in left.
Sarah Lachapelle had two hits for UNE, including a two-RBI double in the 5th. Caroline Schoenbucher also registered two hits for the offense, while Sydnee Bessler fanned four in her 13th pitching victory. Anna Sessa, Alexis Kapsambelis, and Gabby Harrison (Kennebunk) all had one hit that later allowed them to score.
The Nor’easters took advantage of eight free passes issued by Nichols pitching, which contributed to 14 runners left on base.
The Bison carried the momentum from the first contest into the next, amassing six of their 11 hits hits during the initial two at-bats. The visitors took a 2-0 advantage in the 2nd, started by a Taylor McIntosh lead-off homer that clanked the left field foul pole. Taylor Commesso followed with a single, and two sacrifice bunts later, Colleen Callahan singled her home.
McIntosh and Callie Andrews posted three hits for NC, with two apiece from Callahan and Commesso.
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