Box Score HENNIKER, N.H. The New England College softball team advanced to the winner's side of the playoff bracket after downing Newbury College, 9-0, in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) playoff tournament.

THE BASICS
Score: New England College 9, Newbury College 0 Five Innings

Records:Pilgrims (29-6, 14-2 NECC) | Nighthawks (13-26, 5-11 NECC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
A bunt single by Emily Nelson got NEC on the board in the bottom of the second inning which scored Daelyn Ross. Gabriella Marcheschi ground out to drive in Taylor Barbour and give NEC a 2-0 lead through two innings of play. Ross doubled to center field in the third inning to score Chanel Welch and extend the NEC lead. The next batter was Barbour, who doubled home two more runs. She later came around to score on a single by Nelson. Ross later homered in the fourth inning to give NEC a 9-0 lead. That is her 10^th homerun on the season.

Barbour grabbed her 16^th win of the season after striking out 12 batters and allowing three hits in the five inning contest.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
-This was the eighth meeting all-time between the Pilgrims and Nighthawks. NEC now lead the series 5-3.
-This was the third meeting of the season, all in Henniker, N.H. NEC has won all three matchups.
-The heart of the Pilgrim batting order, two through six (Welch, Helmedach, Ross, Barbour, Nelson), for the Pilgrims, were a combined 10-for-14 on the day with nine runs scored and eight RBI.

UP NEXT
Friday, May 3^rd vs. Eastern Nazarene at the Wentworth Institute of Technology, 6 p.m., NECC Playoffs