BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin and UNE softball teams split a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Pickard Field. Bowdoin won game one 9-1 (5 inn.) before falling to UNE in game two, 3-2.

The contests marked the home-opener for the Polar Bears, who now stand at 19-9 this season. The Nor'easters move to 14-12 this spring.

Game One Recap
The Polar Bears scored five times in the bottom of the fifth inning to earn an eight-run rule decision over the Nor'easters, 9-1. Bowdoin jumped ahead on a Jordan Gowdy sacrifice fly in the first inning and plated three runs in the second on another sacrifice fly from Ali Miller, an RBI ground out from Adriane Krul and a run-scoring double from Cielle Collins. UNE got one back in the fourth when Abby Lambert brought home Amanda Vallante with an RBI single. Bowdoin pitcher Julia Geaumont worked out of further trouble, however, and permitted just two hits while striking out three batters in five innings.

Bowdoin put the game away in the fifth thanks to a two-run home run to deep center from Katie Gately, a double from Lauren O'Shea that scored Gowdy and a two-run single by Emma Stevens that pushed the differential to eight runs. Katelyn Austin took the loss for UNE, allowing six earned runs and nine hits while walking four over 4.2 frames.

Game Two Recap
The UNE bats came to life in the first inning of game two, scoring three runs that proved to be the difference in the game. Sydney Helmbrecht came home on a double from Paige Moore-Haskell to give the visitors a 1-0 lead after just two batters. The Nor'easters mounted a two-run, two-out rally later in the inning thanks to a double-steal that brought home Moore-Haskell and a double to right field by Meghan Bolano that scored Kelly Murphy.

That proved to be all the offense Abby Lambert would need in the circle as the UNE hurler scattered nine hits over seven innings, permitting two earned runs. Bowdoin clawed back into the contest thanks to Victoria Rusch, who crushed her first career homer - a solo shot to left in the third - and doubled home Emily Griffin in the sixth. Gowdy followed with a single, but UNE's Lauren Doneski made a game-saving throw from right field to cut down Rusch at the plate, preserving the one-run lead for the Nor'easters. Bowdoin made a bid to tie the game in the seventh, placing runners on first and third. Nicole Nelson laced a grounder to third that deflected off UNE's third baseman Murphy to the glove of shortstop Bolano, who recovered and tossed a strike to first, beating Nelson by a half-step to earn the win for the visitors. Alana Luzzio took the loss for Bowdoin, permitting one earned run over the first four innings. Emily Griffin allowed just two hits in shutout relief over the final three frames.

Bowdoin will return to action at home on Friday against Colby at 4:00 p.m. UNE will host a doubleheader against Thomas tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m.