NASHUA, N.H. – The New England College baseball team was dealt a doubleheader sweep by Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Rivier University on Friday, losing game one in heartbreaking fashion before Rivier earned a come-from-behind victory in game two.  

GAME 1 – NEC 1, Rivier 2 

• Starting pitching was effective for both teams as the scoreless tie was not broken until the top of the sixth inning by the Pilgrims. It was none other than freshman Jaken Pellerin (Manchester, N.H.) to score the game's first run; The rookie swung at the first pitch he saw and deposited it over the wall in left-center field for his third home run of the season. 
• NEC graduate pitcher Stephen Dunham (Manchester, N.H.) allowed very little traffic on the basepaths through seven innings, but the Raiders would threaten in the eighth. Dunham recorded one out before an RBI single by JD Normand (Auburn, N.H.) and back-to-back walks, with the second occurring with the bases loaded, quickly put Rivier on top, 2-1. Junior Isaias Nuño (Rialto, Calif.) entered in relief to deal with the bases loaded jam and managed to prevent any further damage. 
• In the top of the ninth, the Pilgrims would have to deal with a funky arm slot from Rivier closer, Ty Baker (Hudson, N.H.). The submariner recorded one out before giving up a single to a pinch-hitting Nick Becker (Portland, Maine). After a pop up failed to advance the runner, the inning would be extended as junior outfielder Ryan Cote (Goffstown, N.H.) was plunked to set the table for Pellerin. Pellerin took ball one before driving the second pitch to deep center field, but Rivier centerfielder, Jacob Boudreau (Auburn, N.H.) ranged back and made a remarkable, game-saving catch for the Raiders. The excellent defensive play robbed Pellerin of extra bases and prevented the Pilgrims from scoring the tying and go-ahead runs. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Nate Bonacorsi (Goffstown, N.H.) started for the Raiders, going six-and-two-thirds innings with one earned run on six hits, three walks, and one strikeout. Reliever Erik Whitehead (North Andover, Mass.) was credited with the win while Baker earned his third save of the season. 
• Dunham covered seven-and-one-third innings, going at least seven innings for the third time this season. He allowed two earned runs on five hits while punching out five. 
• Pellerin went 2-for-5 in game one, while junior infielder Yeri Ramos (Loiza, P.R.) went 2-for-4 
• NEC outhit Rivier, 7-5. 

GAME 2 – NEC 4, Rivier 7

• The Raiders quickly recorded the first two outs of the game but an error that allowed Pellerin to reach second would have immediate consequences for the home team. Ramos followed with a pop-up double down the left field line to score Pellerin and give the visitors the lead. Ramos advanced to third on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch, beating a close play at the plate to go up 2-0. 
• Rivier wasted little time before erasing the Pilgrim lead, turning a leadoff walk into a run on a sacrifice fly later in the inning. Then, a single by Normand and a triple off the bat of Luis Tejada (Methuen, Mass.) knotted the game up at 2-2. 
• Ramos manufactured another run in the top of the fourth for the 'Grims, taking a leadoff walk and stealing second before advancing to third on a groundout by Cote. Ramos would give NEC the lead as the junior took advantage of another Raider wild pitch, this time scoring with ease as he sped home for his second run of the game. 
• Rivier applied some pressure in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of walks, but senior pitcher Corey O'Day (Nashua, N.H.) escaped unscathed after a big inning-ending strikeout of Owen Medlock (Merrimack, N.H.). 
• O'Day ended his outing with five straight hitless innings while holding the Raiders to two runs. As soon as O'Day came out of the game, Rivier seized the opportunity and pushed across three runs in the seventh inning off the Pilgrim bullpen – aided by a pair of errors out in the field for NEC. 
• The Pilgrims wouldn't go down without a fight, using back-to-back walks of graduate infielder Johnny Cannavo (Weymouth, Mass.) and Nuño to manufacture a run from a Pellerin sacrifice fly. Another walk of Ramos would keep the threat alive, but the submariner Baker would come in out of the pen and extinguish it with two consecutive strikeouts. 
• Just as NEC pulled within one in the top of the eighth, the hosts increased their cushion with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. With a three-run lead, Baker would finish off the 'Grims in the top of the ninth to secure the doubleheader sweep.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Rivier starter Anthony Morro (Durham, Conn.) went seven innings, allowing three runs (one earned) with six strikeouts to earn the win. Baker covered one and one-third innings to lock down his second save of the day. 
• O'Day threw his second quality start of the season for the Pilgrims, pitching six innings with two earned runs on just two hits with a season-high seven strikeouts. 
• Pellerin and Ramos had the team's only two hits and RBIs of the nightcap, with Ramos adding two walks and two runs scored. 
• Of Rivier's nine hits, eight were singles. 
• NEC had four stolen bases in game two. 

UP NEXT 

• NEC is tentatively scheduled to face Johnson & Wales on Sunday. 
• Rivier plays their next game at home on Monday as they host Albertus Magnus. 

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.