Softball: The Polar Bear bats came alive and sophomore Amy Hackett tied a school record with two home runs and seven RBI to lead the Bowdoin College softball team to their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, 14-2, over Husson University on Friday morning. The Polar Bears (34-13) fend off elimination and advance in the loser’s bracket of the tourney and will face Coast Guard Academy on Saturday at noon in another elimination game. Fans can watch the game live.

Women’s Tennis: The Bowdoin College women’s tennis team cruised to a 5-0 win over Castleton State in to open NCAA Tournament play on Friday afternoon at Amherst College. The Polar Bears advance to the Second Round where they will face rival Middlebury College at 1:00 p.m. Saturday.

Honors: The Bowdoin College Athletic Department announced end-of-year honors at the annual All-Sports Banquet on Thursday evening, May 13.

Meanwhile, student-athletes in three sports have been honored by the New England Small College Athletic Association (NESCAC):

Baseball: A trio of baseball players have been honored in All-NESCAC awards handed out on Thursday. Leading the way was rookie pitcher Oliver Van Zant (Westport, Conn.) who was named NESCAC Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Third baseman Brett Gorman (Bedford, N.Y.) was honored, along with Van Zant, as a First-Team All-NESCAC choice while centerfielder Brendan Garner (Swampscott, Mass.) was named as a Second-Team selection.

Softball: A quartet of Bowdoin College softball players have been named All-New England Small College Athletic Conference in honors announced on Thursday by the conference office. Junior Kara Nilan (Pittsfield, Mass.) was named the NESCAC Pitcher of the Year while senior Clare Ronan (Jenkintown, Pa.) joined Nilan as a First-Team selection. Senior Julia Jacobs (Ridgewood, N.J.) and sophomore Amy Hackett (Bangor, Maine) were named to the NESCAC Second-Team.

Women’s Lacrosse: Sophomores Katie Stewart (Chevy Chase, Md.) and Katie Herter (Topsfield, Mass.) have been named All-Conference performers by the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Stewart collects First-Team All-League honors while Herter was tabbed as a Second-Team selection.