A Quick Look
The NEC softball team split on the final day of its spring trip to Florida. The Pilgrims took a 2-1 victory versus Messiah in game 1 of the day before falling 8-1 to Shenandoah. NEC will now head north with an overall record of 3-7.
Game 1 – NEC 2, Messiah 1
Sophomore
Amanda Magro (Phoenix, AZ) struck out a career high 11 batters while scattering five hits enroute to a complete game victory.
Senior
Grace Giesler (La Mirada, CA) got things started in the top of the first inning with a walk before stealing second. She advanced to third base on a ground out and came in to score on a single to right field by classmate
Emma Lopez (Downey, CA).
Magro cruised into the fifth inning before Messiah senior Brielle Rosario hit a one-out, solo home run over the left field fence to knot the score at 1-1.
With the score still tied entering the seventh inning, the Pilgrims strung together a few hits that led to the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run.
Freshman
Makayla Halley (Ventura, CA) and junior
Sydney MacLean (Keene, NH) hit back-to-back singles to start things off. After an infield fly, MacLean was erased on a force play at second base allowing Halley to get to third base and for senior
Ashleigh Lemay (Derry, NH) to reach first base. Halley crossed the plate when junior
Arianna Bayze (Temecula, CA) hit a bloop single behind first base.
Magro shut the Falcons down in the seventh, striking out two and retiring them in order.
Game 2 – Shenandoah 8, NEC 1
The Hornets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after one inning and then added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to lead 4-0 entering the home half of the sixth. It was in the sixth that the Pilgrims scored its only run.
Giesler was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and was followed by a single up the middle by junior
Sonia Garcia (Victorville, CA). The next two hitters were retired setting the stage for Magro who placed a single on the right field line to drive in Gielser.
The Hornets added four runs in the top of the seventh to round out its scoring. Freshman Gracie Ravenkamp threw a complete game, six-hitter striking out five in her collegiate debut on the mound.
Lemay and Garcia each had a pair of hits for the Pilgrims.
What's Next
The Pilgrims will have a couple of weeks to prepare for its first scheduled game up north on Saturday, March 21
st at Lasell, which will be the GNAC opener for both schools.