STANDISH, Maine - The Pilgrims dropped both games of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader to the Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Tuesday. The Monks improved to 27-10 (12-6 GNAC) while NEC fell to 8-27 (6-12 GNAC) as they fight for a spot in the GNAC postseason tournament. 

Game 1 – NEC 2, SJC 3 

The Pilgrims suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat in game one as the Monks walked things off in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single from Jared Wilhelm to score Vinny O'Leary. 

Senior Ryan Cote (Goffstown, N.H.) had got things started in the first inning, hitting a one-out double before later scoring as sophomore Jaken Pellerin (Manchester, N.H.) reached by way of error to give the 'Grims a 1-0 lead. The Monks wouldn't trail for long, tying the game in the bottom of the second. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Saint Joseph's would break the 1-1 tie on a solo home run from Jake Carlisle. The Monks would take a 2-1 lead into the top of the seventh where they would turn to Nic Frink in a save situation. 

Frink's second pitch of the inning was sent off the scoreboard in left center field for a game-tying solo shot from Pellerin to send the game to the bottom of the seventh where Wilhelm would deliver the game-winning hit. 

Junior Paul Foster (Billerica, Mass.) pitched well for the Pilgrims, allowing just two earned runs on five hits across six innings in a no-decision. Tyler Nelson went six strong for the Monks with six strikeouts while Frink earned the win in relief. 

Game 2 – NEC 12, SJC 15 

The 'Grims quickly exceeded their game one total in the first inning of game two, scoring thrice on a Monk error and a pair of RBI singles from senior Harold Martinez (Wethersfield, Conn.) and graduate Tyler Fenton (Wilmington, Mass.). 

In the second, Cote reached base with a two-out single, stole second, and then came around to score on career double number 49 for graduate Brady Philibotte (Weare, N.H.). Later in the third, Fenton led off the frame with a double and would eventually score on an SJC error.  

After the Monks got one run in the bottom of the third, the Pilgrims grew their lead back to five in the fifth as sophomore Bobby Trigilio (Chicopee, Mass.) hit a lead-off double and scored on a single off the bat of freshman Dillan Abbate (Port Jervis, N.Y.). 

Freshman Nate Gallant's (Epping, N.H.) day ended after six innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits while striking out five in the rookie's best performance as a Pilgrim. The Monks would quickly spoil Gallant's outing, getting to the NEC bullpen with six runs in the seventh inning to take a 7-6 lead. 

Down one in the eighth, junior Charlie Greenberg (Lewisboro, N.Y.) worked a leadoff walk before the Monks retired the next to Pilgrims to bring Philibotte to the plate. Philibotte watched a first pitch ball before watching the next pitch sail over the outfield fence for his fifth home run of the season and tenth of his career while giving NEC an 8-7 advantage. 

Just as the 'Grims re-took the lead in the top of the inning, the Monks snatched it right back in the bottom-half. Frink hit a two-run home run to jumpstart an eight-run inning while seizing a 15-8 lead entering the ninth. 

The Pilgrims showed major fight in the top of the ninth, batting around with seven batters reaching base in the frame. Senior Nick Hernandez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) drove in a run on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, followed by an RBI single from Philibotte. With the bases still juiced, Pellerin walked in another run and Hernandez singled home one more to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs before Saint Joseph's put an end to the rally. 

NEC outhit SJC 13-11 in the nightcap but the Monks made the most of 12 walks issued by the Pilgrims' pitching staff. It was a sloppy night in the field for both teams as the 'Grims committed four errors while the Monks made five. 

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The Pilgrims will now set their eyes on a key conference doubleheader next Saturday, April 25th, as they travel to Northfield, Vermont for a matchup with Norwich starting at 12:00 PM. 

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