Softball Sweeps UNE; Couto Spins Near Perfect Game In Opener

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team swept the University of New England (UNE) in a pair of conference games (8-0, 6 inn. | 8-0, 6 inn.) on Saturday evening.

GAME ONE: Endicott 8, UNE 0 (6 inn.)

WP (8-3): Jaylin Couto (Taunton, Mass.) – 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K
LP (1-9): Kara MacDonald (Medford, Mass.) – 0.2 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

Couto took a perfect game into the fifth inning before the Nor'easters broke up the bid with a hard-hit double to left center.

Up until that point, Couto struck out eight batters and only allowed one fly ball out in fair territory.

The senior right-hander also was aided by a seven-run first inning that settled her into the contest.

Mia Mitchell (Medford, Mass.) started the scoring with an RBI single to center, while Ella Tower (Windham, N.H.) and Kylyn McLaren (Rochester, N.H.) followed with a two-run single and a two-run double.

Katie Watts (Swampscott, Mass.) capped the scoring in the frame with a two-run single up the middle.

In the sixth, Dani Lear (Groveland, Mass.) walked it off for the Gulls with a solo blast to left center.

GAME TWO: Endicott 8, UNE 0 (6 inn.)

WP (6-3): Kristen Beebe (Brentwood, N.H.) – 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
LP (5-6): Mo Kinsella (Chicago, Ill.) – 5 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

The Gulls scored in every inning but the second to complete the sweep.

In the first, Caitlyn Romero (Southport, Conn.) parked a two-run homer to center field, while Christina Nowicki (Chelsea, Mass.) made it 3-0 later in the frame with a double to left center.

Mitchell added an RBI single in the third before Chloe Shapleigh (Lynnfield, Mass.) pushed across another run in the fourth on a groundout.

Endicott continued to pour it on in the fifth via a two-run single by Lear.

Hadley Marchand (Andover, Conn.) provided the second walk-off hit of the day with an RBI double in the sixth.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORES

• Endicott is 47-13 all-time against UNE.
• The Gulls have won four straight in the series.
• Lear launched her first career homer in game one.
• Romero belted her first career homer in the nightcap.
• Endicott is 10-1 at home this season.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (18-7, 9-1 CCC) visits Nichols tomorrow at 12/2 PM. UNE (8-20, 4-6 CCC) hosts Wentworth tomorrow at 12/2 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - Kaeli Talora '25)