CLERMONT, Fla. – The New England College exploded for 21 runs against North Central (21-4) in game one before falling in a close game against Chatham (5-4) in the nightcap, Friday evening.

THE BASICS
Score:  New England College 21, North Central Univ. 4 (Game One)
Chatham Univ. 5, New England College 4 (Game Two)

Records: Pilgrims (1-3, 0-0 NECC) | Rams (1-7, 0-0 UMAC) | Cougars (4-6, 0-0 PAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One – New England College 21, North Central Univ. 4

New England College's bats came out of the gates on fire. They had three straight hits to begin the game, including back-to-back bunts from Emily Gagne and Jailen Dickens before Destiny Helmedach singled home both runs. Destiny Cardona doubled to left field, plating Daelyn Ross from second on the play. Monica Andrade capped off the scoring in the first, with a single to left field.

After stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, the Pilgrims exploded for ten runs in the top of the second. They plated ten runs on eight hits. NEC tacked on one more run in the top of the third, as Helmedach drew a bases-loaded walk, making it 15-0. North Central got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, as they scored four runs. The Pilgrims put the game away in the top of the fourth, as they scored six runs on six hits.

Game Two – Chatham Univ. 5, New England College 4
Chatham was able to capitalize on a pair of NEC errors as they scored two runs in the top of the first. New England College got on the board in the bottom of the second, as two runs scored on a double to the left-center field from Lindsey Bayes.

The score would remain tied until the top of the seventh when Chatham plated three runs to go up 5-2. The Pilgrims would not go quietly, as Helmedach doubled home a pair with just one out in the frame to get NEC within one (5-4). New England College would eventually load the bases with two outs in the frame, but the second baseman caught a flare to shallow right field to end the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Twenty-one runs scored in the first game against North Central is the most runs scored since March 19, 2014, when they scored 21 against Morrisville State.  
• Destiny Helmedach went 4-for-8 at the plate on the day as she drove in 10 runs.
• Olivia Olson pitched in relief in both games, as she threw 3.2 innings and allowed just one base runner.
• North Central still leads 2-1 in the all-time series, while NEC leads the series 1-0.

UP NEXT

• NEC vs. Geneva, Saturday, March 5, 9:45 am
• NC vs. Maranatha Baptist, Friday, March 18, 3:00 pm
• CC  vs. Houghton, Saturday, March 19, 1:00 pm