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BEVERLY, Mass.--The Western New England University softball team remains alive in the 2014 Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship on Tuesday after doubling up No. 4 University of New England, 6-3, before suffering a 7-0 setback against top-seeded Endicott College in the opening stage of the double-elimination tournament. The Golden Bears, who are seeded fifth, will play No. 6 Roger Williams University (who lost 5-2 to #3 Curry College today) at 2:30 p.m. Thursday on the Gordon College campus in an elimination contest, and the winner advances to play UNE or Curry.

Freshman Gabby Lavinio slammed her team-leading fifth home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning to cap the four-run win over the Nor'easters. She finished with two runs batted in as she was one of six Golden Bears who had a hit.

All-CCC second team pitcher Heidi Grieger picked up her ninth win after going the distance, scattering nine hits and allowing three runs (1 earned). The sophomore held the CCC's top RBI-machine Amanda Vaudreuil--with 37--to none.

After spotting UNE a 2-1 advantage after the first inning, Western New England scored three times in the third to stay in the lead for good at 4-2. Junior Emily Mastropaolo keyed the rally with a two-run double to left-center field and sophomore Heather Fecteau followed two batters later with a sacrifice fly to bring home Mastropaolo from third base. Mastropaolo had advanced on a single to left field off the bat of sophomore Alexis Bukowski.

Senior tri-captain Katie Eckert and Bukowski each had a double to account for half of WNE's four hits against the Gulls. Lavinio and Mastropaolo added a single apiece.

Jesse Bilafer led Endicott offensively by going 4-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Rachel Couto added two hits while Emily Hoffman and Jess Linden contributed two RBI each. Nell O'Connor (12-2) pitched the complete-game shutout with four strikeouts.

The Gulls got all the offense they would need in the bottom of the second inning, and added three in the third and two in the sixth.