QUINCY, Mass. The New England College softball team will be competing in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) postseason tournament. The four-team tournament starts on Friday with a double-elimination tournament hosted by Eastern Nazarene College. The tournament winner will receive an automatic bid to the Division III softball tournament later this month. Friday, the games will be played at Mitchell McCoy Field in Quincy, Mass., before transitioning to St. Mary's Field in Revere, Mass., for Saturday and Sunday.
#1 Eastern Nazarene College
THE SEASON TO THIS POINT
Record 20-20 (8-4 NECC) 7-5 at home, 9-7 on the road, 4-8 at a neutral site
-The Lions earned the top seed for the NECC playoff tournament for the third-straight year.
-NECC Co-Pitcher of the Year, Jennelle Munoz headlines four All-Conference selections for the Lions, as Aurora Adams, Kiley Ozaki, and Taylor Brandt received all-conference nods.
STATISTICS
Average (min. 40 AB): Aurora Adams (.446), Taylor Brandt (.421), Bailey Olaveson (.398)
Hits: Aurora Adams (58), Bailey Olaveson (53), Taylor Brandt (51)
Homeruns: Taylor Brandt (6), Bailey Olaveson (5), Aurora Adams (4)
RBI: Aurora Adams (32), Kiley Ozaki (30), Bailey Olaveson (27)
Stolen Bases: Alex Schwenger (11), Alexys Giddings (6), Taylor Brandt (4)
Wins: Jennelle Munoz (14), Chelsea De Martini (3)
ERA (min. 25 IP): Jennelle Munoz (3.40), Chelsea De Martini (5.88)
Innings: Jennelle Munoz (189.2), Chelsea De Martini (50.0)
Strikeouts: Jennelle Munoz (102), Chelsea De Martini (13)
PLAYOFF HISTORY
2017: did not qualify for the CCC playoffs.
2018: a loss to Western New England (2-1) started the Lions in the loser's bracket. However, wins over Salve Regina (2-0) and Nichols College (4-1) advanced them further in the tournament. They were eliminated by Endicott College (4-3).
2019: Won the opening game over Lesley (7-1) before falling to NEC (1-0). The Lions would come roaring back in the loser's bracket and won three times on the final day to win the conference. In the NCAA, they beat Husson (7-1) but fell to Rowan (3-2) and MIT (5-4).
2020: COVID-19
2021: Swept through the NECC Playoffs (Becker 8-2, Lesley 4-0, Lesley 7-1). In the NCAA, they would lose to East Texas Baptist (10-2 – 5 Innings) and Salisbury (10-0 – 5 Innings).
Overall NCAA Tournament record: 1-4
Overall NECC Playoff record: 7-1
Overall CCC Playoff record: 2-2
#2 Mitchell College
THE SEASON TO THIS POINT
Record 19-19 (6-6 NECC) 10-6 at home, 5-9 on the road, 4-4 at a neutral site
-The Mariners are the second seed in the NECC playoff tournament.
-Led by NECC Co-Player/Rookie of the Year (Gemma Landry) and Co-Pitcher of the Year (Katelyn Lipsky).
-Jenna Bennett and Alex Lopez joined Lipsky and Landry on the All-Conference team.
STATISTICS
Average (min. 40 AB): Gemma Landry (.465), Brooke Whitmarsh (.395), Alex Lopez (.338)
Hits: Gemma Landry (60), Brooke Whitmarsh (45), Jenna Bennett (36)
Homeruns: Gemma Landry (3), Brooke Whitmarsh (3)
RBI: Brooke Whitmarsh (27), Jenna Bennett (24), Gemma Landry (20)
Stolen Bases: Gemma Landry (5), Jenna Bennett (3), Hannah Lemke (2)
Wins: Emily Reynolds (10), Katelyn Lipsky (8)
ERA (min. 25 IP): Emily Reynolds (3.47), Katelyn Lipsky (3.71)
Innings: Katelyn Lipsky (115.0), Emily Reynolds (107.0)
Strikeouts: Katelyn Lipsky (125), Emily Reynolds (40)
PLAYOFF HISTORY
2017: Lost to Bay Path (7-5)
2018: Beat Newbury (4-3) before falling to Bay Path twice (2-1, 3-2)
2019: Lost to Newbury (8-7)
2020: COVID-19
2021: Did not qualify
Overall NCAA Tournament record: 0-2
Overall NECC Playoff record: 8-11
#3 Lesley University
THE SEASON TO THIS POINT
Record 15-15 (6-6 NECC) 10-4 at home, 5-11 on the road, 0-0 at a neutral site
-The Lynx are led by two-time NECC Player of the Year, Jordan Day. Joining Day on the All-Conference team are Ilana Zach, Lindsey Jensen, and Megan Murphy.
STATISTICS
Average (min. 40 AB): Jordan Day (.571), Mahlia Medina (.389), Ilana Zack (.352)
Hits: Jordan Day (56), Mahlia Medina (42), Ilana Zack (32)
Homeruns: Jordan Day (8), Lindsey Jensen (2), Mahlia Medina (2)
RBI: Ilana Zack (50), Mahlia Medina (23), Antonia Kieran (19)
Stolen Bases: Antonia Kieran (5), Ilana Zack (5), Holly Swinamer (4)
Wins: Jordan Day (11), Samantha Mecklenburg (4)
ERA (min. 25 IP): Jordan Day (3.33), Samantha Mecklenburg (4.58)
Innings: Jordan Day (101.0), Samantha Mecklenburg (78.0)
Strikeouts: Jordan Day (106), Samantha Mecklenburg (31)
PLAYOFF HISTORY
2017: wins over Mitchell College (7-0), Regis College (2-1), and Bay Path University (6-0) put them into the championship. In the championship round, a loss to Newbury College set up a winner take all single game which the Lynx won, 3-0, to be named the NECC champs. However, they fell to Babson College (4-0) and Framingham State (4-2) in the NCAA DIII Regionals.
2018: losses against Newbury College (12-4) and Bay Path University (12-4) knocked the Lynx out of contention.
2019: Beat Newbury (9-3) but lost twice to ENC (7-1, 13-0).
2020: COVID-19
2021: Beat New England College (14-0 – 5 innings), lost to Eastern Nazarene (4-0), defeated Becker (2-0), and lost to ENC (7-1).
Overall NCAA Tournament record: 0-2
Overall NECC Playoff record: 30-13
#4 New England College
THE SEASON TO THIS POINT
Record 14-10 (10-8 NECC) 9-3 at home, 3-5 on the road, 2-2 at a neutral site
-All-Conference sections lead the Pilgrims: Emily Gagne and Daelyn Ross.
STATISTICS
Average (min. 40 AB): Emily Nelson (.391), Daelyn Ross (.388), Destiny Helmedach (.376)
Hits: Daelyn Ross (38), Destiny Helmedach (35), Emily Gagne (34)
Homeruns: Daelyn Ross (11), Jalien Dickens (1), Destiny Helmedach (1)
RBI: Daelyn Ross (39), Destiny Helmedach (27), Destiny Cardona (20)
Stolen Bases: Emily Gagne (19), Monica Andrade (11), Jailen Dickens (11)
Wins: Emily Farone (7), Naomi Medrano (3), Olivia Olson (2)
ERA (min. 25 IP): Emily Farone (4.08), Olivia Olson (5.69), Naomi Medrano (5.76)
Innings: Emily Farone (96.0), Naomi Medrano (51.0), Olivia Olson (39.1)
Strikeouts: Emily Farone (49), Naomi Medrano (27), Olivia Olson (11)
PLAYOFF HISTORY
2017: losses to Husson University (3-2) and Castleton University (3-1) eliminated the Pilgrims from playoff contention.
2018: wins over Castleton University (2-0) and Thomas College (5-3) put NEC in the NAC Championship on the winner's side of the bracket, but two losses to Husson University (9-1, 4-1) gave the Pilgrims a second-place finish.
2019: Defeated Newbury (9-0) and Eastern Nazarene (1-0) before dropping two straight to ENC (3-1, 11-2) in the Championship Series.
2020: COVID-19
2021: losses to Lesley University (14-0 – 5 Innings) and Becker College (9-7) eliminated the Pilgrims from playoff contention.
Overall NECC Playoff record: 2-4
Overall NAC Playoff record: 3-11
