SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 6, 2022) – The Western New England softball team had no problems getting by the No. 3 seeded University of New England in the morning session on Friday, taking down the Nor'easters by a final score of 9-0. The Nor'easters would have to battle with the Bison of Nichols College, with the winner to face the Golden Bears, while the loser would be eliminated. UNE would come out victorious to face the Golden Bears in an elimination game for the Nor'easters. UNE would put up a fight, taking a lead, before losing it, though tying it up in the 7th before Cori Rizzo would drill a three-run walk off home run to send WNE to the championship series on Saturday afternoon. 

Records:

• No. 6 University of New England: 19-23
• No. 2 Western New England: 28-13

Game One (Bracket B, Game 3B, Winners from Day 1): Western New England 9, University of New England 0

The Nor'easters would threaten right away, loading the bases with two outs before SP Megan Beebe would record a huge pop out to short stop to send WNE to offense without surrendering a run. Western New England would make the Nor'easters pay for failing to capitalize on their chance as Taylor Keegan would draw a leadoff walk, while Paige Baca would reach on an error, getting two on with nobody out. Dina DiBlasio would drive on the first Western New England run on an RBI sacrifice fly, giving WNE a 1-0 lead at the end of one inning.

Beebe would lock it down from the start, getting the Nor'easters down in order in the second. WNE's next runs would come in bunches in the third inning. Paige Baca would lace a single down the left field line, which was then followed by a two-run home run by the CCC Player of the Year, Dina DiBlasio, giving the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead. Alex Ferriouolo would single to left field to continue the inning, which would then be followed off by a big home run from Madison Mason, which sent the Golden Bears to a large 5-0 lead. 

While the Nor'easters would put the leadoff batter on base in both the third and fourth innings, Western New England's defense and pitching would shine, as WNE would get the Nor'easters down quickly. In the bottom of the fourth, the Golden Bears would shine again for another four spot on the board. Kailey Carrano would single to left field which scored both Keegan and Baca, giving Western New England 7-0 lead. Madison Mason would come up after a Ferriouolo walk and a Cori Rizzo fielder's choice and rope a two out two RBI double to left field, giving WNE a 9-0 lead. The University of New England would fail to score in the top of the fifth, securing the win for the Golden Bears to move one win away from the championship series.

Around the Circle:

• SP Megan Beebe went the first four innings for WNE, giving up just three hits while walking three and striking out two. First year Ava Blanchard finished the fifth inning allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out one. 
• Madison Mason went 2/2 at the dish, scoring a run and picking up a team best four RBIs.
• Dina DiBlasio went 1/3 at the plate, securing three RBIs in the win. 
• The Nor'easters left eight runners on base in the loss. 

Game Two (Bracket B, Game 5B, Winner of Game 3B (WNE) vs. Winner of Game 4B (UNE)): Western New England 6, University of New England 3

The Nor'easters would defeat the Bison of Nichols College to stave off elimination, looking to win one against the Golden Bears to play an extra game with WNE on Saturday. The Nor'easters got off to the start they were looking for when Grace Tutt produced a sacrifice fly to right field to give the University of New England a 1-0 lead. The Nor'easters would reload the bases in the inning with one out, though Ava Blanchard would keep the Nor'easters at one run in the inning. 

The Golden Bears would struggle at the plate with Nor'easters ace Jordan Strum keeping WNE off the board through the first four innings. 

Before the Golden Bears could get a run, UNE would come around with their second of the afternoon in the top of the fifth on a wild pitch, sending the Nor'easters to a 2-0 lead. Western New England would respond and turn the University of New England's two run lead into a one run deficit as WNE came away with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take their first lead of the game. Taylor Keegan would get thing started for WNE with a single to right field, scoring pinch runner Inez Baez Flores to give WNE their first run of the game. CCC Player of the Year Dina DiBlasio would single to left field, scoring two WNE runs, giving Western New England a 3-2 lead. 

Both teams would threaten in the sixth inning after the Nor'easters would send one to second base with just one out, though would fail to score on Megan Beebe. Western New England would see second and third with two outs in the bottom of the inning, though would also fail to score in the inning, going three outs away from securing a bid to the CCC Championship. The Nor'easters would have other thoughts, as Kate Wilmont would single up the middle on a full count with two outs to even the score at three. WNE would need a walk off celebration to win the ball game. 

Paige Baca would lead WNE off with a single to center field and advance on an error by the center fielder, getting WNE in scoring position with nobody out. Dina DiBlasio would take a walk before two straight Golden Bears were set down, leaving it up to Cori Rizzo for WNE and Jordan Strum of UNE. On the first pitch, Rizzo would smack a ball to deep left center field and would carry over the fence, giving WNE a 6-3 win and senind the Golden Bears to the championship series. 

Around the Diamond:

• Cori Rizzo sent her third home run of the season over the fence, non-bigger than the walk off homer to send the Golden Bears into the championship series. Rizzo collected three RBIs in the contest.
• Paige Baca went 2/3 on the afternoon, scoring a run for WNE. Alex Ferriouolo collected two hits as well. 
• Megan Beebe finished the final six innings, giving up six hits and two runs while walking run and striking out eight. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will head to seeded Endicott College on Satruday, May 7 at 12:00 pm for a best of three series with the Gulls after the Gulls won their side of the bracket, defeating Roger Williams University on Friday afternoon.  EC has won the last two championships in the CCC. Western New England last won the CCC in 2018, defeating Endicott.