A Quick Look
The New England College softball team played a pair to open its 2025 season today in Kissimmee, Fla. The Pilgrims ran into the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Penn State Brandywine and came away empty falling 11-3 in five innings to U Mass and 5-3 to Penn State.
The Inside Story
Game 1 – U Mass 11, NEC 3
The Corsairs didn't waste any time putting up a five-spot in the top of the first inning. Senior Kinu Takasugi led off the game with a free pass and came around to score the game's first run on an error. U Mass added a second run on a double steal after putting runners on the corners. Sophomore Olivia Silva singled in the third run of the inning and came around on an RBI triple off the bat of junior Sydney Menz. Menz would score the final run of the inning on a single by the starting pitcher Lily Routhier.
In the bottom half of the first, junior
Grace Giesler recorded the first 'Grims hit of the season down the right field line. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases for junior
Ashleigh Lemay, who was hit forcing in Geisler from third.
The Corsairs tacked on a pair of runs in the second to increase its lead to 7-1. The Pilgrims countered with a single run in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore
Arianna Bayze driving in junior
Surena Montero, who led off the inning with a hard single up the middle.
U Mass added three more runs in the top of the third on the strength of three RBI hits by Takasugi, junior Emma Talpey and classmate RaeLynn Perregaux.
Giesler scored her second run of the game and NEC's final run of the contest in the bottom of the third inning.
Senior
Olivia Olson took the loss in her initial outing of 2025 striking out one and walking three in four innings of work.
Game 2 – Penn State 5, NEC 3
The Pilgrims got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning plating a pair of runs to grab an early 2-0 lead. Sophomore
Kate Gagne was walked to start the game and stole second. Back-to-back walks to Giesler and sophomore
Abigail Grimes loaded the bases for NEC. A wild pitch brought home Gagne and then Giesler scored a few batters later on a sacrifice fly by junior
Julia Maker.
Penn State tied the game in the bottom half of the third inning taking advantage of a throwing error to score its first run and then getting an RBI single from freshman Ava Craddock.
The Lions put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth inning with the big hit being a two-run double off the bat of rookie Emma McElroy.
The 'Grims recorded its first two hits of the game in the fifth inning on a pair of singles by junior
Carlie Panas and Maker. Unfortunately, the two would be stranded on the base path.
NEC scored its final run of the game in the seventh, when LeMay was the beneficiary of two errors on the same play that allowed her to come around the bases.
Sophomore
Wren Anhalt pitched the first four innings and struck out one. Newcomer
Amanda Magro threw two scoreless innings in her collegiate debut in relief.
Just the Stats
Giesler collected a pair of hits while scoring three runs to lead the offense for the Pilgrims today.
What's Next
NEC will continue its Florida trip tomorrow with games versus Widener and Penn State Berks.
