NEW LONDON, N.H.-The New England College baseball team clinched a postseason appearance for the first time in 18 years with a 7-1 win over Colby-Sawyer in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play on Tuesday afternoon.

With the win, the Pilgrims also tie the NEC record for wins in a season (21), set in 2012 following a 21-17 record.

NEC improves to 21-18 this season and 13-10 in NAC play, while Colby-Sawyer falls to 19-18 overall and 11-12 in league action.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pilgrims jumped on the scoreboard with three runs on four hits in the opening frame. Sophomore Evan Delaney (Hadley, Mass.) and sophomore Jeam Castillo (Lynn, Mass.) had RBI singles, while junior Joe Paliotte (Warwick, R.I.) knocked in a run with a triple.

NEC added a fourth run in the second on a run-scoring single from freshman Luis Atiles (Dorchester, Mass.).

Junior Garrett Waldron (Seffner, Fla.) plated two teammates in the third to give the Pilgrims a 6-0 lead.

Colby-Sawyer was able to get a run on the board in the sixth inning with two outs. Junior Doug Avellino (Woodstock, Vt.) began the action with a single to center and later scored on a Brendan Thurber (Ashland, Mass.) single to right field.

The visitors added another run on a sac fly in the seventh inning to complete the scoring at 7-1 in favor of the Pilgrims.

NEC freshman Stanley Vargas (Boston, Mass.) threw a complete game four-hitter. He allowed one run and added to his league leading strikeout total with six.

Colby-Sawyer starting pitcher sophomore Ryan Glendye (Litchfield, N.H.) was saddled with the loss after three innings of work. Junior Andrew Clay (Hopkinton, N.H.) tossed four strong innings of relief allowing just one run on two hits.

Delaney, Castillo and Waldron had two hits apiece for the Pilgrims.

WHAT'S NEXT
The day was slated for a doubleheader between the two sides, but a lengthy fog delay in the morning pushed the first game start time back two and half hours. The teams will complete the series tomorrow with a regular season finale seven inning game.