STANDISH, Maine – The New England College softball team lost both ends of their double-header at Saint Joseph's College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Wednesday at Richard W. Bailey Field in Standish, Maine. NEC took a 9-1 loss in game one before falling just short in extra-innings, falling 11-10 in the nightcap. With these results, the Pilgrims run their record to 10-18 overall and 5-5 in conference play.
GAME 1 – NEC 1, SJC 9
- NEC got their lone run of game one in the top of the second when sophomore designated player Sonia Garcia (San Bernardino, Calif.) singled through the left side to plate junior catcher Emma Lopez (Downey, Calif.), giving them a 1-0 lead.
- That would be the Pilgrims only time in control, as the Monks reeled off nine runs over the next four innings. SJC senior third baseman Sylvia Foley (Scarborough, Maine) led the way, going three-for-four with two RBI.
- SJC senior pitcher Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Maine) allowed just four hits and one run in six innings.
GAME 2 – NEC 10, SJC 11 (8 INNINGS)
- Down 4-0 in the top of the second of game two, the 'Grims lineup awakened, reeling off five runs in the frame. Lopez led them off with a single while Garcia and senior right fielder Olivia Olson (North Haven, Conn.) both walked behind her, loading the bases. Junior left fielder Surena Montero (Bakersfield, Calif.) then hit an RBI single to centerfield, scoring Lopez and keeping the bases juiced. After Garcia scored off a wild pitch, junior second baseman Ashleigh Lemay (Derry, N.H.) stepped to the plate and singled to drive in Olson. A bunt single from junior infielder Julia Maker (Warwick, R.I.) plated Montero, and two batters later sophomore shortstop Kate Gagne (Portsmouth, N.H.) had an RBI ground out as Maker scored. Just like that Pilgrims took a 5-4 lead.
- In the top of the fourth, NEC junior pinch hitter Carlie Panas (Chester, N.H.) entered the game and delivered with a pinch-hit RBI single to left to score junior centerfielder Grace Giesler (La Mirada, Calif.).
- Down 8-6 in the top of the seventh, NEC sophomore first baseman Abigail Grimes (Baltimore, Md.) led off the Pilgrims with a walk. After a fielder's choice by Lopez, Garcia likewise reached on a fielder's choice for the second out. Down to their last out, Olson singled down the left field line, then Montero reached on a error, loading the bases with two outs. Lemay stepped to the plate, battling her way to a full count. In a storybook moment, Lemay doubled to right, driving in Olson and Garcia to tie the game up at 8-8. On the very next at-bat, the 'Grims regained the lead off a passed ball that allowed Montero to score. Just like that, NEC took a 9-8 lead.
- In the bottom of the seventh, the Monks led off with a pair of singles. After a groundout advanced the runners to second and third, SJC senior catcher Abby Carpenter (Bath, Maine) hit an RBI fielder's choice to tie the game at 9-9. A double play on the following at bat sent the game into extra innings.
- In the top of the eighth, Gagne stepped to the plate with one out and a runner at third and hit an RBI single to give the 'Grims a 10-9 lead. That would be short lived, however, as in the bottom of the inning, the Monks took advantage of a costly error as SJC senior Paige Connery (Tyngsboro, Mass.) hit a single to drive in two runs in walk-off fashion.
- Giesler went four-for-five at the plate with a double and a stolen base.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the field on Saturday when they play host to Simmons University in a 12:00 p.m. double-header.
- Saint Joseph's plays their next double-header at home against Anna Maria College, that also coming on Saturday at noon.
