Box Score STANDISH, Maine – The New England College softball team lost 9-4 to host Saint Joseph's College of Maine in their first double-elimination game in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) playoffs at Richard W. Bailey Field on Friday afternoon in Standish, Maine.
The Pilgrims, the fifth-seed in the GNAC North division bracket, see their record drop to 15-23 with a must-win game ahead of them on Saturday when they will face second-seeded Emmanuel College in an 11:00 a.m. game played Bailey Field. The Saints earlier lost their playoff game against the Sharks of Simmons College.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Down 7-0 entering the top of the fourth inning, the 'Grims rallied when NEC sophomore catcher Emma Lopez (Downey, Calif.) smacked a two-RBI single up the middle to drive in graduate leftfielder Emily Gagne (Portsmouth, N.H.) and sophomore shortstop Grace Giesler (La Mirada, Calif.). Two batters later, Lopez scored from second off a single from freshman first baseman Abigail Grimes (Baltimore, Md.). Finally, sophomore right fielder Amaya Rodriguez (Indio, Calif.) came to the plate and drove in freshman designated player Sonia Garcia (San Bernardino, Calif.).
- That was as close as the Pilgrims could make it, however, as the Monks added a run in the bottom of the fifth and one more in the bottom of the sixth to pull away.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Rodriguez went three-for-four on the day, just the fourth three-hit game of her career. Gagne, Garcia and Grimes each finished with a pair of hits.
- NEC junior pitcher Olivia Olson (North Haven, Conn.) saw her streak of 29 and 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run snapped in the bottom of the second inning, nevertheless leading the Pilgrims into the elimination round.
- SJC junior third baseman Sylvia Foley (Scarborough, Maine) led the Monks, going three-for-four with two runs batted in.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the field on Saturday when they play Emmanuel College in Standish with their season on the line. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m.
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