HENNIKER, N.H. -- NEC Softball outscored Elms College 17-1 on Saturday afternoon to take the sweep for senior day.  

Game One – Elms 0, NEC 8  

Leadoff batter Amanda Raymond reached base to start the afternoon but was quickly thrown out at second attempting to steal. The Blazers left one runner on base, ending the inning on a groundout to shortstop. 

In the bottom half, junior Kate Gagne (Portsmouth, N.H.) laid down a bunt, drawing in the corners and racing safely down the first baseline. Senior Grace Giesler (La Mirada, Calif.) followed with a double to left field; allowing Gagne to score the game's first run. The 'Grims added another after senior Surena Montero (Bakersfield, Calif.) grounded out to second. 

Elms threatened in the second inning, with Caity Flynn advancing to third, but a pop-up ended the inning and left her stranded. The 'Grims bats stayed hot, as starting pitcher senior Wren Anhalt (Brooksville, Fla.) singled to center and later scored on a double to right – center by senior Ashleigh Lemay (Derry, N.H.) extended the lead 3-0. Lemay later came around to score when Giesler lined into a double play.  

The momentum continued as senior Emma Lopez (Downey, Calif.) doubled to left field, bringing senior Kyndal Murawski (Putnam, Conn.) home. Lopez then scored on Montero's second double of the game to cap off the inning.  

The third inning moved quickly, with both teams going 1-2-3, highlighted by a strikeout from Anhalt. Holding a six-run lead in the fourth, Gagne walked and stole second. With two outs, she scored on a Lopez single to center. Montero delivered again with another double, allowing Lopez to score and pushing the lead to eight.  

Elms managed their lone run in the fifth on a fielder's choice with runners on, but two stranded. In the bottom half, the 'Grims loaded the bases with two outs after three singles. The game ended when Giesler drew a walk, bringing Lemay home for the final run.  

Four seniors combined for five doubles in the game, while Gagne and Giesler each added a stolen base. Anhalt went the distance, pitching all five innings and earning her second win of the day on Senior Day. 

Game Two – Elms, 0 NEC, 8 

Two out of the first three batters reached base for the Blazers, but both were stranded keeping the game scoreless early. NEC carried its momentum over from game one, as Giesler led off with a single. Lopez followed with a double, her 14th of the season, giving the 'Grims an early 1-0 lead. Montero added another single to keep the rally going.  

Senior Carlie Panas (Chester, N.H.) who saw action for the first time this season in the previous game, had a 0-1 count and crushed the next pitch over the left field fence for her first career home run, extending the lead to 4-0.  

Elms went down the order in the next inning, recording two ground outs. In the bottom half, Lopez broke a three-way tie that she had entered the previous inning by recording her 15th double of the season, setting up a new single-season doubles record. The hit drove in Murawski and pushed the lead to 5-0.  

The 'Grims defense continued to dominate in the third, holding Elms to another 1-2-3 inning.  

In the bottom of the third, the Blazers made defensive adjustments, including pitching change. Panas led off with a two-pitch single to left center and was replaced by junior Arianna Bayze (Temecula, Calif.). Junior Abigail Grimes (Baltimore, M.D.) followed with a single of her own. With the two runners on, senior Julia Maker (Warwick, R.I.) worked a 2-1 count before launching a home run over the center field fence, extending the lead to 8-0. NEC left two runners on base to end the inning. 

Both teams left two runners on in the fourth inning. In the final half inning, sophomore Amanda Magro (Phoenix, Ariz.) struck out two batters swinging to seal the win. Magro recorded her eighth complete game of the season, allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out six, bringing her season total to 57. 

NEC is back on the road tomorrow afternoon, heading north to Norwich University. Game one will start at 12:00 P.M.  

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