HENNIKER, N.H. – NEC Softball extended its win streak to five games on Tuesday afternoon, earning a thrilling 9-8 extra-inning comeback victory over Bay Path University.
Bay Path struck first in the opening inning, scoring two runs on a home run to center field by Madison Sunderland. NEC answered right back, plating two runs of its own. Junior Kate Gagne (Portsmouth, N.H.) reached on an infield single, beating out the throw, and later scored on a triple to left field by senior Grace Giesler (La Mirada, Calif.). Giesler then came home on a sacrifice fly from senior Emma Lopez (Downey, Calif.) to even the score at 2-2.
Both teams settled in defensively over the next few innings. The Wildcats went down quickly in the second, while NEC threatened in the fourth with a pair of hits but left runners stranded.
Bay Path regained the lead in the fifth when Ariana Rivard singled, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a deep ball to right field by Caroline Austin. After NEC went down in order in the bottom half, the Wildcats added two more runs in the sixth, highlighted by Sunderland's second home run of the game. With two outs and runners on second and third, Rivard added an RBI single, though Giesler cut down a runner at the plate to limit the damage.
Trailing late, NEC began its comeback in the sixth. Junior Sydney MacLean (Keene, N.H.) doubled to center field, and with two outs, sophomore Amanda Magro (Phoenix, Ariz.) pinch hit and delivered a clutch RBI double to left. Magro then scored on a double by senior Ashleigh Lemay (Derry, N.H.), cutting the deficit to one.
In the top of the seventh, Sunderland struck again with her third home run of the game, helping Bay Path extend its lead to 7-4.
NEC responded in the bottom of the inning. Gagne reached on a bunt single and stole second before Giesler drove her in with a single to center. Freshman Makayla Halley (Ventura, Calif.) reached on an infield hit, and both runners advanced on a passed ball. With two outs, MacLean came through with her second double of the game, driving in two runs to tie the score at 7-7 and force extra innings.
Under the international tiebreaker rule, Bay Path placed a runner on second to start the eighth and quickly took a 8-7 lead on a leadoff single. NEC limited further damage, stranding two runners to keep the deficit at one.
In the bottom half, Magro was placed on second and advanced into scoring position on a groundout. With one out, Gagne delivered an infield single to drive in Magro and tie the game. Later, with two outs and runners on second and third, Lopez came through with a clutch single to left field, scoring Gagne for the walk-off victory.
Magro earned the win in relief, allowing four hits and striking out three over two innings. NEC totaled 15 hits on the day, including four doubles and one triple, while driving in nine runs.
Game Two of the doubleheader was suspended in the fourth inning due to weather, with the score tied 4-4.
NEC will be on the road for a non-conference double header against Plymouth State on Thursday.
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