Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--The Western New England University softball team won both ends of its home-opening doubleheader Tuesday afternoon against the University of New England, 7-2, and 7-3, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action at Golden Bear Park. Western New England improves to 6-6 (2-0 CCC) on the season with the sweep, while the visiting Nor'easters drop to 0-2 in conference play and 6-6 overall. UNE was voted to repeat as CCC champions in the preseason coaches' poll; WNE picked for fourth place.

Sophomore Lauren Zambrano pitched very well for the Golden Bears in the opening game, going the full seven innings while scattering six hits and two earned runs. Zambrano improved her record to 5-3 this year, improving to third in the conference with a 1.44 earned-run average.

Second baseman Samantha Mulhern had a monster day at the plate for the Golden Bears, going 3-for-3 with six runs batted in, including a two-run triple in the second and a two-run double in the sixth that extended Western New England's lead to the final margin of five. Catcher Grace Kucharski and left fielder Alexis Bukowski added two hits apiece to help lead the Golden Bears to victory.

The Nor'easters were able to push two runs across in the top of the third thanks to RBI-singles from right fielder Adrienne Chase and second baseman Erin Grover, but that was all UNE could muster against the strong pitching of Zambrano.

Western New England outhit UNE, 11 to 6.

Mulhern, along with right fielder Hannah Hill, provided the offensive spark for Western New England in the second game of the doubleheader, going a combined 5-for-8 with five RBI and three runs scored.

Freshman Leah Torre (1-3) earned her first career win for the Golden Bears, going five innings while giving up two earned runs. Torre, who walked four batters, was able to work herself out of several jams unscathed after loading the bases in both the second and third innings.

In addition to her strong pitching effort, Torre added an RBI single in the bottom of the first to stake Western New England to an early 2-0 lead. The Nor'easters responded by mounting a two-out rally in the fourth inning, scoring two runs on RBI singles by Grover and shortstop Amanda Vaudreuil that cut the Golden Bears lead to 3-2.

Western New England was able to put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs highlighted by Hill's first home run of the season--and second of her career--to left center with two on base. UNE scored one more run in the sixth before falling by four runs.

Kucharski and Maria Francese chipped in with two hits apiece for WNE's 12-hit attack.

The Golden Bears return to action tomorrow, when they travel to Northampton to take on Smith in a non-conference doubleheader. The University of New England has a day off before it heads to Gordon for a CCC doubleheader.