BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Sophomore Adrienne Chase (Holden, Mass.) hit a two-run homer in the University of New England's three-run fifth inning to help the Nor'easters rally past Saint Joseph's College of Maine for a 4-3 win in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday (April 16) afternoon at Claude Dubois Field.
The Monks hung up a five-spot in the top of the seventh of game one for an 11-9 come-from-behind victory.
After the split, the Nor'easters now own a 17-14-1 record, while the Monks have won 9 of 11 and are 23-7.
Down 2-0 after one inning in the second game, the Nor'easters cut their deficit in half with a single run in the third without registering a hit. First-year Meghan Bolano (Wakefield, R.I.) reached base with a one-out walk, then moved up to third when senior Megan Gauger (South Paris, Maine) reached on an error. Bolano would later race home on a wild pitch to get Big Blue on the scoreboard.
UNE took the lead with three runs on three hits in the fifth frame. Bolano reached base after drawing her third walk of the game. After a single by Gauger, rookie Kelly Murphy (Cromwell, Conn.) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to get Bolano and Gauger in scoring position. First-year Amanda Vallante (Dracut, Mass.) chased Bolano home with an infield out, setting the stage for Chase's game-winning home run to left-center -- her fifth jack of the season.
First-year pitcher Chelsea Damon (Scarborough, Maine) worked out of a jam in the seventh to close out the win. The Monks loaded the bases with a walk and two singles before junior Connie Grovo (Limington, Maine) got St. Joe's to within one (4-3) with a sacrifice fly. Damon induced a groundout to end the threat.
Damon (4-6) allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out three. Offensively, Gauger led the way for UNE with three hits, and junior Ali Stanley (Rochester, N.H.) supported with a pair of doubles.
Senior Danyelle Shufelt (Sutton, Vt.) and junior Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine) had two hits apiece for the Monks. Grovo had two of St. Joe's three runs batted in. Sophomore Laura Jordan (Orrington, Maine) worked the first 4.1 innings in the circle and was tagged her first loss (2-1). Hendrix came on to pitch the final 1.2 innings.
St. Joe's pounded out 14 hits in game one. Trailing 9-6 heading into the final inning, the Monks scored five times on just three hits in the frame and were aided by three UNE errors. Shufelt had an RBI single and Grovo a sacrifice fly, but the big blow was a two-out, opposite-field home run by Tripp.
The Monks led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth before Big Blue exploded for eight runs in the home half of the inning. Bolano fueled the uprising, leading off with a solo shot to left for her first collegiate home run, then blasting a two-out grand slam to cap the rally. The other UNE runs came home on a sacrifice fly by senior Erin Grover and singles by juniors Jessica Potter (Crown Point, N.Y.) and Kirstyn Tracey (Pawcatuck, Conn.).
Moore had three hits and four runs scored to pace the Monks' offense. Tripp added a pair of hits and five RBI, while Shufelt, Grovo and sophomore Victoria Ramos (North Scituate, R.I.) finished with two hits apiece.
Junior Rae-Marie Copan (Newton, Mass.) earned the win in relief of senior Kayla Vannah (Waldoboro, Maine). Copan allowed four hits and two earned runs over 3.2 innings to up her record to 9-1.
In addition to Bolano's two-hit, five-RBI performance, UNE received two hits from Vallante, Potter and senior Casey Brigham (New London, Conn.). First-year Abby Lambert (Brockton, Mass.) took the loss in the circle to drop her record to 7-4.
Saint Joseph's returns to action Thursday with a home doubleheader versus the University of Southern Maine (3:30 p.m.).
The Nor'easters are scheduled for their final home date of the regular season Saturday when Wentworth Institute of Technology for a noon doubleheader.
COURTESY OF UNE SPORTS INFORMATION
Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 350-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
