NASHUA, N.H. -- NEC traveled to Rivier University on Wednesday afternoon for an in-conference doubleheader winning the first game 5-4 with eight hits but fell in the second game 7-1.  

Game One NEC 5, RU 4  

The first two batters reached base at the top of the first with an error by the Raiders and a walk. With one out senior Emma Lopez (Downey, Calif) doubled through the right side allowing junior Kate Gagne (Portsmouth, N.H.) to score. Freshman Makayla Halley (Ventura, Calif.) followed in the order grounding out but earned an RBI since senior Grace Gieseler (La Mirada, Calif.) scored, putting up a quick 2-0 score. Now, with two down junior Sydney MacLean (Keene, N.H.) singled to left center, having Lopez score.  

Sophomore Amanda Magro (Phoenix, Ari.) saw four batters at the bottom of the inning, having one hit off her and a strikeout swinging starting her day to the final push of 100 career strikeouts.  

After a quick second inning and the 'Grims going 0-3 at the top of the third. The Raiders had bases loaded with one out; Olivia Couto had a s SAC Fly to left field, bringing a run across the plate and getting the team on the board 3-1. Magro had two hits off her, but the Raiders stranded two on base.  

NEC got the bats hot again at the top of the 5th inning with Giesler having a single up the middle, she advanced into scoring position after junior Abigail Grimes (Baltimore, M.D.) grounded out to the shortstop. Back-to-back doubles by Lopez and Halley earned two more runs for the 'Grims, but the team left one on base, making the scoreboard read 5-1. Rivier answered in the sixth adding to the score with Couto having a homerun; NEC was able to get out of the inning unscathed, leaving the bases loaded after a popup to third base and Magro earning her 100th strikeout.  

In the final inning, NEC had a quick 0-3 at the plate still holding the lead 5-2. In a last stich effort for the Raiders, two runs were added off three hits. They left two on base with the final two batters popping up and flying out to right field.  

Magro had a complete game facing 35 batters, walking three and having nine hits. She now has five wins in the season.  

Game Two – NEC 1, RU 7  

It was a defensive battle between the two teams for the first few innings of the game. NEC jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, after leadoff batter Gagne singled to third base, then advanced to third base for the following batters. Cleanup batter Lopez singled to right field, earning an RBI with Gagne scoring.  

Following the top of the first, it was a battle on the diamond with each team getting out of having runners on base. Rivier took the lead at the bottom of the third inning after having the bases loaded and two runners having singles back-to-back. The team was able to get out of the inning only down by one run while still having three runners on base.  

The score remained 2-1, until the bottom of the sixth inning when Riv added five runs off six hits. NEC was unable to come back in the seventh, with only one runner reaching base off a walk.  

NEC had a total of eight hits, one being off a double from Halley. Sophomore Mackenzie Yirrell (Methuen, Mass.) pitched 5.2 innings facing 32 batters.  

NEC will be at home on Saturday afternoon celebrating their eight seniors for Senior Day against Elms College with game one of the doubleheader starting 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.