BIDDEFORD, Maine—Emily Kline (Park Ridge, N.J.) came up with the biggest hit of the season for Gordon Softball, delivering a two-out single to score two runs in the top of the fifth inning to push the Fighting Scots to a 2-0 upset over the University of New England. Gordon advances to the double-elimination round of the current Commonwealth Coast Conference for the first time ever after being eliminated in the knockout round in each of the last four years.
The Fighting Scots notched their 15th win of the season in the process, officially giving the team the program record for victories in a single campaign. The previous high of 14 wins had been achieved eight times in school history. Gordon currently sits at 15-20 heading into tomorrow's game versus fourth-seeded Endicott. The Gulls will be the home team in the game being played at Salve Regina, beginning at 1 p.m.
UNE finishes the season at 15-14.
Just one week after Gordon handed the Nor'easters a loss for the first time in the series since 2008, the Fighting Scots played the favorites tough again. Through four innings, only one hit had been relinquished combined between both starting pitchers, a single for Melissa Jakubowski (Danbury, Conn.) in the third. Gordon's Caitlin Catalanotto (Kingston, N.H.) was able to pitch out of a jam after the Nor'easters loaded the bases with no outs in the inning with help from her defense. Carleigh Petersen (North Hills, Calif.) made a heads up play with one out to get the runner out at home to keep things knotted at one.
For the second time in as many matchups, Gordon struggled to hit sophomore Melissa Sprague (Londonderry, N.H.). The All-CCC Second-Team member fanned 10 Scots in seven innings of work and had a no-hitter going through four and two-thirds innings, when Kline struck gold.
Emily Burkhart (Manheim, Pa.) was hit by a 2-0 pitch to lead off the inning before heading to third on a throwing error during the next at bat. Gordon had two in scoring position and no outs in the inning, but Sprague was able to get the next two Scots out in order to nearly close out the threat. Down to her last pitch, Kline delivered a clutch single by depositing a ball into left field to score both runners on the play.
UNE threatened again in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of singles from Avery Alberghini (Middlesex, Vt.) and Sydney Helmbrecht (Grand Rapids, Minn.), but a lineout double play ended the trouble in an instant.
The Nor'easters only got one runner in scoring position for the rest of the game.
Catalanotto tied the conference leader with her 12th win of the season in the circle, striking out five in a full game of work. She only allowed four hits scattered across the seven frames.
