NEW LONDON, Conn.—It was Senior Day at the United States Coast Guard Academy as the Bears rallied in the seventh inning to walk away with two come-from-behind victories (5-4, 4-3) against the visiting Emerson College Softball team Friday afternoon at Nitchman Field.

With the losses, Emerson sinks to 12-18 overall and 2-14 in conference play, while Coast Guard surges to 14-14 and 5-9 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).

In game one, the Lions pounced out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first behind timely hitting, as Emerson pounded four singles and the entire batting order got up to the plate in the frame.

The Bears scratched back for one run in the bottom of the second on an RBI double to left field by Casey Cruzpino.

The teams traded scoreless at-bats in the third and fourth innings before Coast Guard tied it up at 3-all in the fifth with a two-run shot over the centerfield wall by senior Jessie Richardson.

In the sixth, freshman shortstop Jackie DeFusco banged an RBI double to left as senior right fielder Annie Jenkins was wheeled around to score the go-ahead run from first base to take a 4-3 advantage heading into the crunch time stage of the game.

The Bears tied it up again in the bottom of the sixth with a double followed by an error to knot the game at four apiece.

Despite ten team hits in the game, the Lions failed to push a run across in the seventh.

Coast Guard won the game, 5-4, on senior Kelsey Gray's fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh.

Freshman pitcher Alexis Ellis-Alvarez went five strong innings in the circle for the Lions and allowed four runs (three earned) on 10 hits, before giving way to junior Samantha Corey in the sixth, who suffered the loss as the pitcher of record.

Junior center fielder Amanda Horton led the way for the Lions with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate with one RBI and one run scored in the game.

In game two, Emerson got on the board early as freshman shortstop Jackie DeFusco came around to score in the first on freshman catcher Lyndi McIntyre's RBI single to right field.

Zeroes were traded back and forth until Coast Guard evened the game at 1-1 in the fifth inning on senior Erin Lisko's RBI single to center.

The Lions were able to plate two runs in the top of the seventh, as senior right fielder Annie Jenkins came home on junior center fielder Amanda Horton's RBI single to right field with one out.

Emerson added an insurance run on McIntyre's RBI single to left to score DeFusco as Emerson took a 3-1 lead headed into the bottom of the seventh.

A walk began the inning, followed by three consecutive singles to bring home a run to make it 3-2.

With runners on second and third and one out, clean-up hitter Emma Hvozdovich singled home the tying and game-winning runs to stun Emerson again, 4-3, and completed the doubleheader sweep.

Freshman pitcher Casey Tsamis scattered six hits over five innings, allowed one run, walked one and struck out two before giving way to junior Samantha Corey.

Sarah Sorensen went the distance for Coast Guard, pitching two complete games to earn both victories.

Top hitter for Emerson in the game was DeFusco (2-for-4  with a double and two runs scored.

The Lions will close out their NEWMAC schedule with a 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. doubleheader in Worcester against the Clark University Cougars on Saturday, April 18.