WENHAM, Mass.—Sophomore Megan Jenkerson (McDonough, Ga.) continued her record-breaking season with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to salvage a split with visiting UNE. The Nor'easters received a dominant pitching performance in game one from Melissa Sprague (Londonderry, N.H.) to win 5-1, before Gordon countered back for the 2-1 victory in game two.
Gordon moves its record to 13-19 overall, but more importantly 6-10 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. UNE maintains a .500 mark at 13-13 and 8-8 respectively.
Game One
Both starting pitchers turned in solid lines in the opener, but it was UNE's Sprague who was just a little bit sharper.
After a quick and scoreless first two innings, UNE broke the deadlock with two runs in the top of the third. Sydney Helmbrecht (Grand Rapids, Minn.) singled a ball into right field to drive in runners from second and third base. Only one of those runs was earned after an error in the Gordon infield. Helmbrecht went three-for-four in the contest.
The Nor'easters added another run to their lead in the fourth on a wild pitch before another scored in the fifth on a grounder to shortstop off the back of Caroline Schoenbucher (Barrington, N.H.).
Lauren Gerhard (Merrimack, N.H.) contributed another insurance run for the Nor'easters in the seventh with a single that toe-tapped the foul line in right field to score Helmbrecht from second.
Gordon's offense struggled to hit Sprague, who retired 20 consecutive batters after Rose Shannon (Ashland, Mass.) ran out an infield hit in the first. Junior Sarah Ryder (Telford, Pa.) ended the drought with a no-doubter to left field to account for Gordon's only run of the game.
Sprague K'd nine Scots, while allowing only one run on three hits in the game. She also did not walk a single batter. Emily Kline (Park Ridge, N.J.) also had a solid performance with only three earned runs against and three punch outs.
Gordon had three errors, which led to two runs.
Game Two
In a game highlighted by show-stopping plays in the outfield, Gordon came out the victory on the final play of the game.
The Nor'easters scored in the very first inning by executing some small ball. Avery Alberghini (Middlesex, Vt.) walked to lead off the game before subsequently stealing second and third to immediately put the pressure on Gordon. Helmbrecht helped the UNE cause with a sacrifice fly to center to score Alberghini easily from third.
The middle innings flew by despite some hard hit balls as both defenses shined in big moments. Each centerfielder showcased the leather with highlight show plays to rob hits on each side of the box score.
Gordon was finally able to fight through for the tying run in the fifth with Emily Burkhart (Manheim, Pa.) and Jenkerson at the center of things. A moment that would be foreboding give the Nor'easters a sense of déjà vu just a few innings later. Burkhart doubled into the gap in left center and advanced to third on an error at third base. Jenkerson made the visitors pay with a deep fly out to right to score the Gordon second baseman for the tie.
UNE looked poised to take the lead back in the seventh inning was a walk and a single ended up putting two runners in scoring position with only one out. Gordon first-year Caitlin Catalanotto (Kingston, N.H.) bore down in the moment adversity and struck out the next two batters swinging to end the threat.
The moment seemed to help the Fighting Scots in the bottom half as Burkhart reeled in her second hit of the game through the left side of the infield. Kline laid a sacrifice bunt down to move Burkhart into scoring position to set up a two-out spot with one of the CCC's toughest outs.
The Nor'easters brought in a relief pitcher to face Jenkerson after a 1-0 start, but Jenkerson fought off a 2-0 pitch between the third baseman and shortstop to bring Burkhart all the way in from second for the stylish triumph.
What's Next?
Gordon will head to Nichols on Monday for their CCC finale series, with the playoffs still in play. UNE has already clinched a playoff spot heading into a home doubleheader with Curry tomorrow starting at noon.
The CCC playoffs begin on Friday afternoon.
Of Note
Game two marked Gordon's first win over the Nor'easters since the 2008 season and the four-run loss was the closest the Scots had had in the series during that same span.
