Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

New England College

Ryan Cote
Photo: Frank Poulin
Ryan Cote
9
Winner Houghton HOUGHTON 1-0
3
New England Col. NEW ENGL 0-1
Winner
Houghton HOUGHTON
1-0
9
Final
3
New England Col. NEW ENGL
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Houghton HOUGHTON 1 2 2 0 0 0 4 9 12 2
New England Col. NEW ENGL 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 6 1

W: C. Gross (1-0) L: Nuño, Isaias (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Drops Pair to Houghton in Season Opener

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Senior Ryan Cote (Goffstown, N.H.) slugged the Pilgrims' first home run of the season as they sustained two losses to Houghton University to kick off the 2026 campaign on Saturday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. NEC dropped the first of two seven inning games, 9-3, and the second game, 10-2.  

In game one, the Highlanders from Caneadea, New York jumped out to a 3-0 lead while the 'Grims loaded the bases in the bottom of the second. With two outs, graduate Brady Philibotte (Weare, N.H.) singled home graduate Tyler Fenton (Wilmington, Mass.) for the team's first run of the season. Philibotte reached base five times on opening day, walking four times. 

In the fifth, sophomore Bobby Trigilio (Chicopee, Mass.) and senior Harold Martinez (Wethersfield, Conn.) got aboard with singles with Trigilio eventually scoring on a pickoff error to make it a 5-2 game. Houghton added four runs in the top of the seventh to create a seven-run cushion.  

Martinez reached base for a fourth time in the bottom of the seventh with his third walk, while Fenton reached for a third time on a second single. Martinez would score on a wild pitch before Houghton recorded the final two outs for a 9-3 win. Senior Isaias Nuño (Rialto, Calif.) got the opening day nod while senior Brendan Hill (Lincoln, R.I.) was strong out of the bullpen for the 'Grims. 

After not recording an extra-base hit in the first half of the doubleheader, Cote led off the nightcap with an opposite field home run over the right field wall. The Highlanders responded with one run in the bottom of the first, six in the second, and three in the fifth.  

Houghton starter Conner Benitez did not allow another hit after Cote's solo shot until the sixth inning when freshman Dillan Abbate (Port Jervis, N.Y.) recorded his first career-hit on a hot shot into center. Benitez allowed just the one run in six innings with 11 punch outs.  

The 'Grims scored a run in the top of the seventh after freshman Tanner Jacko (Tillsonburg, Ont.) walked and came around to score on a single from senior Jackson Round (Cayuga, Ont.). Sophomore Benoit Beaudoin (Meredith, N.H.) had a scoreless inning in relief. 

The Pilgrims are back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader against Vermont State University Lyndon at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM on Ebbets Field in Myrtle Beach. 

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

Print Friendly Version