BIDDEFORD – Kara Nilan pitched a three-hitter as Bowdoin salvaged a split of a softball doubleheader against the University of New England with a 3-0 second-game victory Tuesday.

The Nor’easters (18-8) won the opener 5-4 after pinch-runner Beth Smith scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the sixth.

Ashley Gott led the UNE offense with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Amber Zablowsky (10-2) pitched a six-hitter with no walks and one strikeout.

Nilan (4-2) walked none and struck out 11 in the opener. Clare Ronan drove in two runs for the Polar Bears (17-9) with a sacrifice fly in the first and a double in the seventh. Molly Nestor added an RBI single in the sixth.

 

COLBY SWEEPS UM-FARMINGTON: Barbara Santos had a single and two-run homer in the opener, then added three hits and an RBI in the second game as the Mules (6-13) posted 8-2 and 5-3 wins over the Beavers (4-6) at Farmington.

BASEBALL

SOUTHERN MAINE CC 9, NORTHERN ESSEX CC 2: Nate Leeman had an RBI single in the fifth inning and a two-run single in the sixth to lead the Seawolves (16-15) over Northern Essex at Haverhill, Mass.

Charlie Boettcher’s RBI single in the fifth gave the Seawolves a 4-0 lead, and they added five in the sixth to go ahead 9-0 before Northern Essex scored in the bottom of the inning.

C.J. Giles (5-1) pitched a six-hitter with two strikeouts and one walk.

 

ST. JOSEPH’S, THOMAS SPLIT: Mike Pratt hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning as St. Joseph’s (20-10) rallied to a 5-3 win in the opener against Thomas (10-10) at Standish.

The Terriers won the second game 4-2, with Mike Busa hitting a three-run homer in the third inning.

Mike Burdin had three hits, including a triple, for the Monks in the first game.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

UNE 17, REGIS 2: The Nor’easters (9-2, 7-1 Commonwealth Coast) had 13 goals in the first half, four from Angel Jarmusz, on their way to a victory over Regis (1-9, 0-7) at Weston, Mass.

Jenna Barton and Kim Bilodeau each scored three goals for UNE. Teresa Crevier scored both goals for Regis.

 

USM 14, ST. JOSEPH’S 7: Jessica Knight had seven goals to lead the Huskies (5-6) to a win over the Monks (9-1-1) at Standish.

Mary Vaughan added three goals and Lauren Santo scored two for USM.

Alyssa Marchant had three goals for St. Joseph’s.

MEN’S LACROSSE

ST. JOSEPH’S 19, RIVIER 0: Spencer Hunt, Paul Dolewa and Dylan Chase each scored three goals, and the Monks (5-6) had a 41-1 advantage in shots while shutting out Rivier (0-5) at Nashua, N.H.

Sean Flanagan and Kody Peckham added two goals apiece.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WAKE FOREST: Colorado’s Jeff Bzdelik will become the Demon Deacons’ new coach, a person familiar with the deal said on the condition of anonymity because the formal announcement had not been made.

Bzdelik spent 2 1/2 seasons coaching the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and most recently went 36-58 in three seasons at Colorado.

His expected hiring comes a week after Wake Forest fired Dino Gaudio because of what Athletic Director Ron Wellman described as a pattern of late-season fades.

 

BAYLOR: Ekpe Udoh plans to bypass his senior season and enter the NBA draft.

 

CLEMSON: Brad Brownell of Wright State was hired as Clemson’s new coach, succeeding Oliver Purnell, who left to coach DePaul.

 

CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Coach Ernie Zeigler agreed to a new four-year contract that will keep him with the Chippewas through the 2013-14 season.

 

HARTFORD: Coach Dan Leibovitz resigned with four years left in his contract.

School spokesman Daniel Ruede said it was not immediately clear why Leibovitz resigned, but ESPN reported he is expected to go back to his alma mater, Pennsylvania, where he would be the top assistant for Jerome Allen.

Leibovitz was 44-82 in four seasons at Hartford.

 

DUQUESNE: Melquan Bolding, Duquesne’s third-leading scorer, has been released from his scholarship and will transfer to another school.

 

NEW MEXICO: Guard Darington Hobson announced he’s forgoing his senior season and declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft, but he won’t hire an agent and has until May 8 to pull his name from the draft if he decides to return to school.