HENNIKER, N.H.- After dropping a close game one, the New England College Softball team pulled out an 11-9 win over Eastern Nazarene in New England Collegiate Conference action to split the season series.

THE BASICS
Score: Eastern Nazarene College 7, New England College 5 (Game One)

New England College 11, Eastern Nazarene College 9 (Game Two)

Records: Pilgrims (12-14, 4-4 NECC) | Lions (18-16, 6-2 NECC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One – Eastern Nazarene 7, New England College 5

New England College was the first team to score, as Destiny Helmedach and Daeyln Ross had back-to-back doubles to the right-center gap. Eastern Nazarene tied the game in the top of the second, as Yaya Bowden singled up the middle, scoring Alexys Giddings. The Lions took the lead in the top of the third, as they scored three runs to go up 4-1, before adding one more in the fifth on a Bailey Olaveson solo home run.

New England College cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the fifth. Jailen Dickens singled down the left-field line, scoring Olivia Olson on the play. Monica Andrade made it 5-3 when she scored on a fielder's choice. Eastern Nazarene would build on their lead in the top of the sixth, as they struck twice to go up 7-3. The Pilgrims would rally late, with one run coming in the sixth and one in the seventh, but they could not complete the comeback and dropped game one 7-5.

Game Two – New England College 11, Eastern Nazarene 9
In game two, Eastern Nazarene would get on the board early, as they scored twice in the first inning and once in the second to go up 3-0 early. The Pilgrims responded with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, kick-started by a solo home run by Daelyn Ross. New England College took their first lead of the game, as they exploded for six runs in the third and two more in the fourth to go up 11-3.

The Lions would not go quietly as they slowly chipped away at the deficit as they plated two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three in the seventh. NEC was able to hold off the late push by ENC to split the doubleheader.

Olivia Olson picked up the win for the Pilgrims, as she pitched 4.2 innings.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Olivia Olson went 4-for-6 between the two games at the plate and scored four runs.
• Daelyn Ross continues to be on an offensive tear, as she went 5-for-7 with four runs scored and two RBI.
• NEC leads the all-time series, 33-21.

UP NEXT

• NEC vs. Lesley, Saturday, April 30, 12:00 pm
• ENC vs. Gordon, Tuesday, April 26, 3:00 pm