NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - After a day of rest, New England College Softball traveled south to compete against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Trailblazers on Tuesday afternoon.
Game 1 – NEC 3, MCLA 6
The first inning saw the 'Grims leaving the bases loaded without capitalizing, while MCLA had a runner thrown out at second caught stealing. The Trailblazers then responded with a pair of runners reaching base and scoring two runs. With runners on second and third, another run came across on a single to left field, giving MCLA a 3–0 lead at the end of the inning.
With two outs in the top of the second, sophomore Mackenzie Yirrell (Methuen, Mass.) drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior Kate Gagne (Portsmouth, N.H.) then doubled down the left field line, bringing Yirrell home. MCLA responded by adding to its lead, as two runners scored on a double to left-center field, making the score 5-1 after two. NEC kept chipping away in the third inning with senior Emma Lopez (Downey, Calif.) reaching on a double then advanced to third after a single by freshman Makayla Halley (Ventura, Calif.). Lopez eventually scored to bring the score 5-2 but left two on base.
NEC added their final run at the top of sixth, after senior Grace Giesler (La Mirada, Calif.) tripled to left center and came across the plate after a single by junior Abigail Grimes (Baltimore, M.D.) which was also her 100th career hit as a Pilgrim. NEC could not follow up after six with a final score of 6-3.
Game Two - NEC 4, MCLA 6
At the start of game two NEC went a quick 1,2,3 with two fly outs. MLCA had batters in scoring position but ultimately were unable to execute on coming across the plate leaving them on base after two hits. After both teams were given chances in the second, MCLA scored first in game two at the bottom of the third leading 1-0 and leaving one runner on base.
NEC scored all their runs at the top of the fifth inning, beginning with senior Wren Anhalt (Brooksville, Fla.) singled to right field and senior Julia Maker (Warwick, R.I.) walking. A pinch runner for Anhalt scored after Giesler singled. They took the lead with Grimes having a single, which brought Maker across home. At the end of the fifth, the 'Grims led 4-1 after four hits. MCLA came back scoring five runs off six hits and NEC could not make a run for lead in the seventh ending the game at 6-4.
NEC is back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon where they travel to Cape Cod to play at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
