HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College baseball team went 2-0 in their double-header against visiting Lesley University in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action on Friday afternoon at Laurie Cox Memorial Field in Henniker, New Hampshire. The Pilgrims nipped the Lynx 4-0 in game one before a 7-1 win in the nightcap. The Pilgrims run their record to 14-19 overall and 4-6 in league play, moving one step closer to wrapping up the third seed in the upcoming NECC conference championship tournament.

GAME 1 – LESLEY 0, NEC 4

• In the bottom of the first, senior centerfielder Luca Giallongo (Mt. Shasta, Calif.) showed off his speed to advance to third while avoiding being caught in a rundown, then crossed home plate on an RBI groundout from junior designated hitter JD Normand (Auburn, N.H.) as the 'Grims took their first lead of the game. On the very next at-bat, senior leftfielder / pitcher Tim Krol (East Longmeadow, Mass.) doubled down the leftfield line to plate sophomore shortstop Brady Philibotte (Weare, N.H.) as NEC took a 2-0 lead into the second.
• In the bottom of the fourth, the 'Grims got it going when senior catcher Aaron Robertson (Weare, N.H.) reached on an error and turned on the jets to reach third, setting up senior first baseman Tyler Gendron (Milford, N.H.) for an RBI single to right to plate Robertson and extend their lead to 3-0 after four.
• In the bottom of the sixth, freshman right-fielder Ryan Cote (Goffstown, N.H.) capitalized on a costly error by the Lynx, as the rookie scored from first on a bad throw to put the Pilgrims ahead 4-0 for the final score.
• NEC senior pitcher Wyatt Cameron (Salisbury, Vt.) took the mound for the final home game of his collegiate career and he did not disappoint, going seven shutout innings for the Pilgrims while striking out a season-high 11 Lynx and allowing just five hits and no walks for his second win of the year.
• Lesley freshman pitcher Roy Lenhard (Shelton, Conn.) struck out five Pilgrims in five and two-thirds innings for the Lynx.

GAME 2 – LESLEY 1, NEC 7

• NEC once again got off to a quick start in game two, as Philibotte came to the plate and singled up the middle to plate sophomore leftfielder Kyle Dobrie (Mastic, N.Y.) as the 'Grims took a 1-0 lead after one.
• In the bottom of the third, the 'Grims would take a 2-0 lead when senior second baseman Bryce Worth (Southington, Conn.) hit an RBI sacrifice fly to drive in Normand.
• Dobrie gave NEC a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when he singled to rightfield to score senior third baseman Devin Parsons (Salisbury, Mass.).
• In the top of the fifth, NEC sophomore starting pitcher Austin Hazzard (Weare, N.H.) had his first trouble spot of the day, put Lynx on first and second with no outs. But after taking the batter to a full count, Hazzard him looking for the first out of the inning. On the next at bat, Hazzard forced the batter into a 4-6-3 double-play to get out of the game, as Lesley was turned away empty-handed.
• Gendron led off the 'Grims in the bottom of the sixth and hit his first home run of the season to give NEC a four-run lead. Three batters later, Dobrie hit a ground-ruled double to right to plate Parsons, extending the lead to five. Three batters later, senior pinch hitter Patrick Hagerty (Stoughton, Mass.) put a beautifully placed double down the rightfield line to drive in Dobrie and Philibotte. On the next at-bat, NEC senior pitcher Alex Perez (Leominster, Mass.) had the first at-bat of his collegiate career as a pinch hitter but struck out. The Pilgrims took a 7-0 lead.
• In the top of the seventh with two outs and down to their final strike, Lesley scored their first run of the day on a throwing error by the catcher as sophomore Christian McElroy (Toms River, N.J.) crossed home plate on an unearned run.
• Hazzard got the start for the Pilgrims, striking out seven Lynx in seven Innings and allowing no earned runs.
• Lesley junior pitcher Evan Swift (Torrance, Calif.) went five innings for the Lynx with three strikeouts.

SENIOR DAY

• Between the two games, the NEC baseball program, along with the athletics department, family members and fans recognized their graduating senior class as part of senior day. Giallongo, Cameron, Robertson, Worth, Parsons, Krol and Perez have all made outstanding contributions not only on the baseball diamond but to the entire New England College community as a whole. Although their time on the field may be coming to an end, they will forever be a part of the Pilgrims family.

UP NEXT

• NEC and Lesley are back on the field on Sunday when the Pilgrims head down to Boston for another NECC double-header with the Lynx playing as hosts with game one scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.

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