Nor'easters split with Thomas in home opener (8-0, 2-6)

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England blanked Thomas College by an 8-0 margin (5 innings) before the Terriers picked up a 6-2 win in the nightcap of a softball doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 11) at the UNE Softball Field.

The results move the Nor'easters to 11-9 on the year and Thomas to 11-12.

UNE plated three unearned runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning in GAME 1 (UNE 8-0) to take control. Sam Dreissig recorded the first of her two hits to start the frame, moved two bases on a couple errors, and scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0, before RBI-singles by Caty Flagg and Caroline Schoenbucher padded the lead.

It was 4-0 with one on and two out in the 4th when Sarah Lachapelle sent a home run over the fence in left, and the Nor'easters produced two more in the 5th to wrap things up before any outs were recorded in the inning. Andrea Gosper notched her second hit to plate Flagg for a second time, and Ali Kuechler singled home Anna Sessa to finish it off.

Sydnee Bessler got victory number 11 with five strikeouts against two hits and two walks. It was her
second shutout of the season.

For the Terriers, Sydney LeBourveau surrendered no earned runs in a losing effort.

UNE sent 28 batters up against Thomas pitching, and went without a strikeout for the first game all year. 

The visiting squad gained an early edge in GAME 2 (TC 6-2), as Katlyn Coulter guided an RBI-single over the bag at third to score Lexi Colpack in the top of the 1st inning.

Coulter was just getting started on her 3-for-3 effort at the dish, which later included an RBI-double in the 4th to make it 2-1, and then a two-out grand slam just inside the left-field foul pole during the 5th stanza. She also earned the decision in the circle, striking out three.

Colpack touched home plate again after a hit in the 5th, while Anna Piirainen, LeBourveau, and Katie Taylor all recorded a hit prior to scoring.

The Nor'easters leveled things with two away in the 3rd, as consecutive singles by Kuechler, Lachapelle, and Dreissig put one run across. Back-to-back doubles from Gosper and Schoenbucher to kick-off the UNE 5th accounted for the other run.

Schoenbucher, Kuechler, and Lachapelle each had a pair of hits for the hosts, who totaled 10 to Thomas' eight in the contest. Melissa Sprague took the pitching setback while tallying three strikeouts.