NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The New England College softball team split their double-header at Albertus Magnus College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday in New Haven, Connecticut.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One
- The Falcons got the scoring started early in game one as junior Isabella Smith (Meriden, Conn.) led off the bottom of the first with a single to the left side. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Gianna Carrano (West Haven, Conn.) and got to third on the throw. Senior Skylar Arent (Ridgefield, Conn.) popped out to right field as Smith tagged up to score.
- In the top of the third, junior infielder Julia Maker (Warwick, R.I.) was hit by a pitch before sophomore outfielder Arianna Bayze (Temecula, Calif.) hit a single, advancing Bayze to second with two outs. Sophomore infielder Abigail Grimes (Baltimore, Md.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases for junior catcher Emma Lopez (Downey, Calif.), who drew a walk to score Maker. Junior outfielder Surena Montero (Bakersfield, Calif.) found a hole in the right side to bring home Grimes and Bayze to give the Pilgrims a 3-1 lead through two and a half innings.
- With one out in the bottom of the third, Freshman Gabby Rubino (Southington, Conn.) drew a walk before advancing to second on a Smith single. Carrano reached first as Rubino came in to score. A single from Arent brought another run in as the Pilgrims and Falcons were tied at three through three.
- Junior infielder Grace Giesler (La Mirada, Calif.) led off the top of the fifth with a single. Grimes hit a double to score Giesler to put NEC up one.
- Senior Colleen Edwards (Clinton, Conn.) reached first on a fielder's choice before advancing to second on the throw to home to tag out freshman Mikaela Schwippert (Whippany, N.J.). Edwards advanced to second, allowing freshman Karla Carangelo (Cheshire, Conn.) to score. After an error, Edwards scored to give the Falcons a late 5-4 lead.
- Giesler and Maker both drew walks before Grimes hit a double in the top of the seventh to seal a 6-5 win for the Pilgrims.
Game Two
- In the bottom of the first in game two, Smith and Carangelo drew walks with an Arent single in between. Edwards hit a triple to left center to score Carangelo, Arent, and Carrano, who reached on a fielder's choice as the Falcons jumped ahead 3-0 early.
- Lopez singled to lead off the top of the second before she scored off a single from sophomore infielder Sonia Garcia (San Bernardino, Calif.)
- Edwards scored off a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth before Carangelo scored off a walk to give the Falcons a game two win, 5-1.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- NEC game one starting pitcher senior Olivia Olson (North Haven, Conn.) pitched a complete game, dealing two strikeouts to earn the win.
- Arent started game one for the Falcons as she went four and a third innings, giving up four earned runs. Carangelo came into the game in the top of the fifth as let up two more runs to earn the loss.
- Grimes hit three doubles in game one as she went 3-3 with three runs batted in.
- Carangelo and freshman Izzy Barreiro (Brookfield, Conn.) each had a double for the Falcons in the game one loss.
- Junior Annabelle Jabs (East Hartland, Conn.) earned the game two win as she went seven innings pitched, allowing one earned run.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the field on Tuesday when they visit Massachusetts Maritime Academy for a doubleheader starting at 4:00 PM.
- Albertus Magnus plays their next game Sunday against the University of Saint Joseph.
For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
