SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The New England College baseball team fell in game one of a doubleheader against Western New England before rallying to take game two in a dramatic ninth inning, splitting the day against the Golden Bears in non-conference action at Trelease Park in Springfield, Massachusetts.  

GAME 1 
Score: New England College 3, WNE 19 
Records: Pilgrims 2-16 | Golden Bears 7-9 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Western New England's bats got hot early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after three. In the fourth inning, the Bears would load the bases for infielder Cody Waterbury (Danbury, Conn.) and the senior would clear the bases with a triple to deep right center field. The Bears would add one more run in the inning to establish an 8-0 advantage. 
• In the top of the sixth, with a runner on first base, sophomore outfielder Ryan Cote (Goffstown, N.H.) smacked a double over the center fielder's head to put runners on second and third. Junior pitcher Austin Hazzard (Weare, N.H.), who received a rare start at designated hitter, would drive in the team's first run of the day on a single to shallow right field - Hazzard's first career hit. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, graduate infielder Cooper Ribaudo (Salem, N.H.) would drive in Cote on a fielder's choice. Pinch hitting freshman outfielder Jason Figuereo (Lynn, Mass.) would follow up with his first career hit, an RBI single roped through the left side, scoring Cote.  
• The bottom of the sixth inning would not go as well for the Pilgrims, as the team would concede 11 runs on eight hits. The 'Grims would go down in order in the top of the seventh as the Golden Bears took the first of two games, 19-3.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Senior Jared Kuryan (Madison, Conn.) started on the bump for the Golden Bears, allowing just three runs (one earned) across five-and-two-thirds innings. He gave up seven hits while striking out seven and earning the win. 
• Sophomore pitcher Jackson Round (Cayuga, Canada) made his first career start on the mound for the 'Grims, suffering the loss after throwing a career-high four innings.  
• Walks were the largest discrepancy between the two teams in game one, as NEC's pitchers combined to walk 13 batters while WNE gave up just one free pass. 

GAME 2 
Score: New England College 8, WNE 11 
Records: Pilgrims 2-17 | Golden Bears 8-9 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Golden Bears offense picked up right where they left off in game one, plating four runs on three hits and three walks in the bottom of the first inning. 
• This time, however, the Pilgrims lineup had a response. Graduate infielder Tyler Gendron (Milford, N.H.) led off the inning with a single before senior infielder Johnny Cannavo (Weymouth, Mass.) smacked a double to right field. Both would come home to score on a two-run single by Cote, and Cote would advance to second on the throw home and then advance to third on a single by Ribaudo. NEC would take advantage of some WNE mistakes, with Cote scoring on a wild pitch, graduate catcher Aaron Robertson (Weare, N.H.) reaching on catcher's interference, and a throwing error scoring Ribaudo to tie the game up at 4-4.  
• The 'Grims would keep the damage coming, as graduate infielder Bryce Worth (Southington, Conn.) walked, and a wild pitch would allow Robertson to come in and score to give NEC the lead. A walk of senior infielder Brett Patnode (Weare, N.H.) would load the bases as the 'Grims batted around in the inning. With two outs, Cannavo would deliver his second hit of the inning with a two-run single. Patnode would score from third on a balk to give NEC an 8-4 lead by the time WNE managed to escape the inning. 
• After a pair of scoreless frames, WNE would get back on the scoreboard with a run in the fifth and three more runs in the sixth to make it a tie ballgame. In the sixth, the Golden Bears would piece together four consecutive hits, highlighted by a triple from junior Jack Loftus (Hanover, N.H.), in a four-run rally to re-take the lead. WNE would add another insurance run in the seventh to establish a 12-8 lead.  
• After seeing their lead slowly vanish, the Pilgrims had their backs against the wall and were down to their last three outs entering the top of the ninth inning down four runs. But just as they did in the second inning, the team looked to answer with a rally. In dire need of baserunners, Figuereo led off the inning with a walk and junior infielder Brady Philibotte (Weare, N.H.) followed with a pinch-hit single to left field. After Worth walked to load the bases, Patnode would drive in Figuereo on a fielder's choice to second, scoring a run but also recording the first out of the inning.  
• The Golden Bears would see their three-run lead shrink to two, as a wild pitch would allow Philibotte to score from third. Gendron would then come through with an infield single, advancing Patnode to third. Another wild pitch would result in Patnode scoring, pulling NEC to within one run. Cannavo would reach by way of a fielding error, resulting in a pitching change by the Golden Bears, before Cote smacked a single down the left field line, scoring Gendron and tying the game up at 12-12. 
• Ribaudo would show some great patience in the box, earning a walk and filling up the bases once again for NEC. Robertson would step up to the plate looking to give his team the lead, and the graduate catcher would get plunked on the first pitch of the at-bat to score Cannavo. With the bases still loaded, Figuereo would continue his breakout game at the plate with a two-run double down the left field line - forcing yet another pitching change for the hosts. Philibotte would hit his second base knock of the inning, scoring Robertson and then Figuereo would score on a throwing error by the center fielder. Finally, Philibotte would score on a wild pitch to give the 'Grims a 18-12 lead following the ten-run eruption. 
• Now with a six-run lead to protect, the 'Grims turned to junior right-handed pitcher Corey O'Day (Nashua, N.H.) who worked around one walk to make quick work of the Golden Bears in the bottom of the ninth to secure the come-from-behind victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Sophomore Brendan Hill (Lincoln, R.I.) started and went two innings for the 'Grims before being relieved by sophomore Brody McNair (Revere, Mass.) who gave NEC five innings. Patnode pitched a scoreless eighth inning and was credited with the win. 
• Junior Matt Lauria (East Haddam, Conn.) struggled out of the gate for WNE, while sophomore Tyler Curtis (Braintree, Mass.) struck out six across four-and-two-third scoreless innings of long relief. Junior Andrew Melone (Merrimac, Mass.) was handed the loss on the mound in the ninth. 
• Figuereo entered the day still looking for his first career hit, but picked up two, three runs batted in, and three runs scored across the two games. Cote had four hits on the day including a 3-for-5 effort in game two with three RBIs. 
• WNE struggled out on the field across both games, committing eight errors as a team, while NEC had just three. 

UP NEXT 

• NEC hosts for the first time this season on Tuesday as the Blue Jays of the University of Saint Joseph will meet the 'Grims at Gill Stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire for a standalone game starting at 3:30 PM. 
• Western New England plays their next game at the University of Hartford on Tuesday at 3:30 PM. 

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