Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Western New England University swept visiting University of New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader action on Sunday at Golden Bear Softball Park, holding on to an 8-5 victory in the first contest and then winning the second 5-0. The host Golden Bears improve to 15-6 overall and 7-1 in the CCC while the Nor'easters fall to 14-11 on the season and 8-4 in conference play.

Western New England jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of Game 1. Junior Alexis Bukowski started the scoring with a double to left-center field to bring home sophomore Gabby Lavinio and senior Samantha Mulhern. Senior Grace Kucharski capped the frame with a RBI-single up the middle to plate Bukowski.

The Golden Bears added another run in the next stanza on a home run to center field off the bat of sophomore catcher Corianna DeLisi, which was the first of her collegiate career. Western New England got some insurance runs with three in the fourth to go up 7-0, as junior Heather Fecteau had a two-run single to left center and Bukowski followed with RBI-single down the left field line.

The Nor'easters got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth as Cat Ouellette hit into a fielder's choice for a run batted in. After WNE got another run back in its bottom half, UNE scored again in the sixth to make it 8-2 the Golden Bears. UNE pulled within 8-5 in the seventh on a solo home run to center by pinch-hitter Abby Lambert and RBI-singles by Amanda Vallante, Adrienne Chase. Western New England was able to work around two UNE unearned runs by throwing Vallante out at third on Chase's single to end the game.

Western New England junior pitcher Heidi Grieger improved to 7-5 on the season, scattering seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Only two of the five runs Grieger allowed were earned. Her earned-run average of 1.65 ranks second in the CCC.

The Golden Bears outhit UNE 10-7 behind a 3-for-4 performance by Kucharski. Bukowski finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and Fecteau was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Vallente led UNE with two hits.

Western New England took advantage of two costly UNE errors as only two of its eight runs were earned. UNE starter Katelyn Austin took the loss (6-4) after a scoreline of six hits, four runs (1 earned) and four strikeouts in three innings. Lauren Doneski pitched the final three innings, charged with two walks, four hits and four runs (1 earned).

In the second game, senior tri-captain Lauren Zambrano fanned 12 batters and tossed a four-hitter to get the complete-game, shutout win. Zambrano raised her conference-leading strikeout total to 92 punch-outs and entered the top-5 ERA list at No. 4 to 2.34.

Fecteau blasted her team-leading third home run, with two runners aboard, to break a scoreless tie in the third. Western New England tacked on two more runs in the fifth for a 5-0 advantage, behind Zambrano's two-run double down the left field line.

Vallante went 3-for-3, including a double, to account for most of the Nor'easters' offense of four hits. UNE had two solid scoring opportunities in the second and sixth innings, but came up empty both times. In the first instance with runners at first and third and two outs, Zambrano struck out Ouellette. Then in the sixth, Zambrano was faced with the bases loaded and one out but she induced two ground balls that produced outs--including a Mulhern throw to home plate to force out Paige Moore-Haskell.

Western New England will travel to Wenham on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. CCC doubleheader versus host Gordon College, as these teams were rescheduled from March 28. A reminder that the Golden Bears' non-conference twinbill at Saint Joseph-Conn. for Tuesday has been canceled.

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