BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England softball team increased its winning streak to 19 games with an 11-1, 8-0 doubleheader sweep of Wentworth Institute of Technology in The Commonwealth Coast Conference action Sunday afternoon at Claude Dubois Field.
The Nor'easters now stand at 21-5 on the year, and remain undefeated in league contests (14-0).
Junior Marie Mantelli (Thompson, Conn.) paced the offense on the day, going 4-for-6 -- including a homer in each game -- with five runs batted in. Classmate Maegen Johnson (Standish, Maine) also had a home run for UNE -- one of the inside-the-park variety as a pinch hitter in the latter stages of the game two.
Senior Amber Zablowsky (Rochester, Mass.) went all five innings in the opener for her ninth win on the season, giving up just two hits and walking none while striking out six. Junior Julie Bigelow (Montpelier, Vt.) went the distance in game two, stiking out nine against three hits and zero walks.
Big Blue scored six times in the second inning of game one to assume a 7-0 advantage. Sophomore Casey Brigham (New London, Conn.), first-year Amanda Vaudreuil (Windham, N.H.), and sophomore Megan Gauger (South Paris, Maine) each had RBI-hits in the frame, before Mantelli crushed one over the fence in left-center to make the difference seven.
Vaudreuil and Gauger recorded two hits and two RBI apiece for UNE, while first-year Allison Frazier (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Johnson each scored two runs.
Wentworth senior Bridget Souza (Medford, Mass.) broke up the shutout with a solo home run just inside the right field foul pole in the top of the fifth. Souza accounted for both hits against Zablowsky, and added another hit in the second game.
The Nor'easters spread out their offense over four innings in game two, all started by a two-run homer from Mantelli in the second. Mantelli drove in another run in the third -- part of her 3-for-4 effort.
Senior Stephanie Podolski (Coventry, Conn.) went 3-for-3 with two RBI, and sophomore Beth Smith (Delanson, N.Y.) two hits to go with two runs. Classmate Erin Grover (Biddeford, Maine) also crossed the plate twice in game two.
UNE has a re-scheduled twinbill at Anna Maria College on Tuesday (3 p.m.), while the Leopards (0-29, 0-18 TCCC) visit Massachusetts Maritime Academy for a non-conference doubleheader the same day (3:30 p.m.).
-Release Courtesy of University of New England Sports Information-
