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New England College

McConaghy Pitches Softball into NECC Championship Finals
Photo: Mike Broglio
Houstyn McConaghy
5
New England Col. NEC 17-21
6
Winner Eastern Nazarene ENC 21-19
New England Col. NEC
17-21
5
Final
6
Eastern Nazarene ENC
21-19
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
New England Col. NEC 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 5 9 5
Eastern Nazarene ENC 0 2 0 0 2 0 2 6 11 2

W: J. Munoz (13-7) L: Farone, Emily (1-8)

2
Winner New England Col. NEC 18-21
1
Mitchell MC 24-19
Winner
New England Col. NEC
18-21
2
Final
1
Mitchell MC
24-19
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
New England Col. NEC 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 7 0
Mitchell MC 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 6 1

W: McConaghy, Houstyn (5-2) L: E. Reynolds (10-9)

Game Recap: Softball |

McConaghy Pitches Softball into NECC Finals

REVERE, Mass. – The New England College softball team split two games at the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Tournament on Saturday evening at Griswold Park in Revere, Massachusetts, losing a 6-5 heart-breaker to top-seeded Eastern Nazarene College, before rallying to beat second-seeded Mitchell College, 2-1, in the elimination game.

GAME 1 – #3 NEC 5, #1 EASTERN NAZARENE 6
  • The Pilgrims took a 1-0 lead against the Lions in the top of the second, as NEC senior centerfielder Monica Andrade (Escondido, Calif.) stole home on a double-steal. On the very next at bat, freshman shortstop Grace Giesler (La Mirada, Calif.), the NECC Rookie of the Year and co-Player of the Year, hit an RBI single to plate NEC senior leftfielder Emily Gagne (Portsmouth, N.H.) to put the 'Grims up 2-0.
  • In the top of the fifth, Andrade hit a two-RBI double to left to put NEC ahead 4-2. Then freshman second baseman Ashleigh Lemay (Derry, N.H.) singled to plate Andrade to put the Pilgrims up by three.
  • In one of the most critical moments of the game, NEC graduate pitcher Emily Farone (Sandown, N.H.) stepped into the circle in the bottom of the fifth with the 'Grims clinging to a 5-4 lead with the bases loaded and two outs, and – in perhaps her final appearance of her collegiate career – struck out the batter swinging to get out a jam. In the bottom of the sixth, Farone again faced a bases loaded situation, this time with one out. The Pilgrim ace forced a fielder's choice to get the out at home, followed by a groundout to end the inning to turn the Lions away again.
  • Farone attempted to repeat the feat once again in the bottom of the seventh, but a pair of costly errors allowed Eastern Nazarene to score the equalizer, and Eastern Nazarene senior outfielder and co-NECC Player of the Year Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) hit a walk-off single to win it for the top-seeded host Lions.
  • ENC junior pitcher Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) went seven innings and allowing just two earned runs.
  • NEC freshman right-fielder Amaya Rodriguez (Indio, Calif.) went two-for-four with two runs scored in the game.
GAME 2 - #3 NEC 2, #2 MITCHELL 1
  • With their season on the line against the Mariners, NEC freshman pitcher Houstyn McConaghy (Lincoln, R.I.) posted the best game of her young career, going seven innings and allowing just one earned run on the night.
  • Down by one in the top of the sixth with runners on second and third, NEC freshman catcher Emma Lopez (Downey, Calif.) reached on an RBI fielder's choice to plate graduate third baseman Destiny Helmedach (Middlefield, Conn.), tying the game at 1-1.
  • In the top of the seventh, Andrade reached on a single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. With one out and runners at the corner, Gagne came to the plate and singled to right to drive in Andrade, giving the 'Grims their first lead of the game, up 2-1.
  • In the bottom of the seventh, McConaghy retired the Lions in order, picking up the biggest win of her life.
  • Lemay finished four-of-five between the two games, in a standout performance.
UP NEXT
  • NEC is back on the field on Sunday when they play the top-seeded Lions of Eastern Nazarene College in the championship round. Game one begins at 1:30 p.m.
For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
 
 
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