STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College (12-14) and University of New England (13-17) split a non-conference softball doubleheader at Richard W. Bailey Field on Wednesday evening. The Nor'easters opened with an 11-1 mercy-rule triumph and the Monks salvaged the split with a 13-7 win in the nightcap.

GAME ONE:

The Nor'easters put the opener out of reach early by scoring six runs on five hits and three walks in the top of the first. Freshman Abby Miner (Saco, Maine) and sophomore Lindsay Joyal (Lyndonville, Vt.) posted RBI doubles, junior Grace Tutt (East Waterboro, Maine) added an RBI single, and junior Megan Chamberlain (Hermon, Maine) and first-year Abby Walsh (Epping, N.H.) registered sac flies to stake their team to a lead that would not be relinquished.

The Monks scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the third, when senior Ashley Emery (Madison, Maine) led off with a single and later scored on a Bailey Rassol (Rehoboth, Mass.) infield ground out.

IN THE CIRCLE:

• SJC junior starter Emily Eagleston (Reading, Mass.) took the loss and falls to 4-3 on the season after yielding seven runs on seven hits and six walks with a pair of K's in two innings; freshman Paige Connery (Tyngsboro, Mass.) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks over four frames
• UNE starter Jordan Strum (Somersworth, N.H.) improved to 9-5 after allowing one run on four hits and no walks with five strikeouts in five innings; reliever Allie Martel (Gray, Maine) gave up two walks in a scoreless seventh inning

OFF THE BAT:

• For UNE, Miner was 3-for-5 with three runs, a double, a home run, and five RBI
• Chamberlain went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI
• Joyal added two hits, a run and two RBI in three at-bats

GAME TWO:

The nightcap looked to be a slugfest early as the teams combined to score 13 runs in the first two innings. UNE took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first frame, but the Monks countered with four runs on three hits and a Nor'easter error in the bottom of the opening inning. Junior Olivia Howe (Arundel, Maine) posted an RBI single and freshman Paige Connery (Tyngsboro, Mass.) roped a two-run double during the four-run first.

The Nor'easters reclaimed the lead with three runs on three hits – including a Nicole Cacciola (Concord, N.H.) RBI double – in the top of the second, but St. Joe's took the lead for good by scoring four runs on five hits and a pair of UNE miscues in the bottom of the frame. Freshmen Sylvia Foley (Scarborough, Maine), Rylee Page (Somersworth, N.H.), and Connery delivered RBI singles to help their squad stake an 8-4 advantage.

The Monks tacked on three runs on one hit and two more UNE errors in the third and held a 13-5 cushion after junior Amaya Dacier (Warwick, R.I.) ripped an RBI double and later scored on a Lydia Goodnough (Kennebunkport, Maine) two-bagger.

The Nor'easters avoided the mercy rule by scoring a pair of unearned runs with two out in the top of the fifth to account for the 13-7 final.

IN THE CIRCLE:

• Junior Meredith Pence (Remington, Va.) improves to 6-5 on the season after giving up five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts over four innings; junior Sydney Hatch (Newburgh, Maine) closed out the game having allowed two unearned runs on three hits with three K's over three frames
• UNE senior starter Kate Wilmot (Walpole, Mass.) suffered the loss after yielding 13 runs (five earned) on 13 hits and two walks in four innings; game one starter Jordan Strum came on in relief and tossed two perfect innings with three K's

OFF THE BAT:

• Connery was 3-for-4 with a run, a double, and three RBI
• Dacier went 2-for-3 with three runs, a double and an RBI
• Rassol was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and an RBI
• Emery added two hits and two runs in four at-bats
• For UNE, junior Makenzy Herron (Boylston, Mass.) was 2-for-4 with a run and Cacciola went 2-for-3 with a run, a double, and an RBI

NEXT!

The Monks kick off a four-game conference weekend with a twinbill at Anna Maria College on Saturday. The opener is set to start at 12:00 PM.

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