New England College softball opened up North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play with two victories over Johnson State Saturday afternoon, beating the Badgers 7-2 in game one and winning game two 7-1.

With the wins, the Pilgrims even their overall record at 11-11, while the losses drop the Badgers to 2-12 on the season.

GAME ONE

The Pilgrims took the 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a three-run homerun off the bat of Jamie Ray scoring Rebecca Allen and Joslyn Gallagher. The Badgers plate two unearned runs in the top of the second, but that is the only scoring Johnson State could muster as NEC tacked on three runs in the second and plate an additional score in the fifth to win 7-2.

In addition to Jamie Ray the Pilgrims were led by Rebecca Allen, who finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Joslyn Gallagher also finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

The Badgers were led by Shannon Grier who finished 2-for-4 at the plate.

Deb Mazzeo picked up the complete game victory, allowing no earned runs on four hits and striking out six.

GAME TWO

Identical to game one, Ray pounded a three-run homerun in the home half of the first inning scoring Colleen Holt and Brianna Castellano to pick NEC up 3-0. Christine McNeil put the Pilgrims up 6-0 after three and she scored three on a double down the left field line. Johnson goton the board in the top half of the fifth as Hannah Leroux homered over the center field fence cutting the lead to 6-1. NEC got the run back in the home half of the sixth as Brittany Distante would score on a ground out by Castellano.

Johnson’s Anna Bingham was the only player in game two with a multi-hit game, including a single and a double.

Picking up the win on the mound in game two was Deb Mazzeo who allowed the one earned run on three hits and striking out four.

WHAT’S NEXT

New England College will return to action on Saturday, April 16 when they host conference opponent University of Maine Farmington.

Johnson State College will hit the field again on Wednesday, April 13 when they travel to take on non-conference opponent Suffolk University.