Softball Swept By Pilgrims In Non-Conference Doubleheader

Mueller & Dillon launch back-to-back home runs for Green & Gold

Henniker, NH. – The Fitchburg State University Softball team dropped a pair of non-conference contests to the Pilgrims of New England College this afternoon from the Old Concord Road Field as the Falcons were edged 8-6 in the opener before falling 8-0 in the nightcap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 6, New England College 8 (GM1)
Score: Fitchburg State 0, New England College 8 (GM2)

Records: Fitchburg State (7-28, 3-7 MASCAC) I New England College (13-19, 6-6 GNAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of the second as freshman Priscilla Dillon (Ashby, MA) to shortstop and moved to second on a throwing miscue before scoring on a single off the bat of junior Shaelyn Burns (North Attleboro, MA) for the 1-0 edge.

The Falcons upped the advantage to 3-0 in the top of the fourth when sophomore Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA) launched a solo home run to left field before Dillon followed with a solo blast to left field for her team leading third home run of the year.

New England College knotted the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth with sophomore Kate Gagne (Portsmouth, NH) walked and came around to score on a base knock from junior Emma Lopez (Downey, CA), while sophomore Sonia Garcia (San Bernardino, CA) added a two -run single up the middle.

The Falcons regained the lead in the top of the fifth as freshman Emily Bennett (Gorham, ME) walked and scored following a muffed throw, while sophomore Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA) singled through the left side to bring in classmate Danielle Forth (Templeton, MA) for the 5-3 edge.

The Pilgrims responded in their half of the fifth with Grimes plating junior Grace Giesler (La Mirada, CA) with a single up the middle before Garcia added a two-run double to right field for the 7-5 lead. The Green and Gold answered back in the top of the seventh when Bennett singled to right field and scored on an RBI double right center from Mueller, resulting in the 8-6 final.

By The Numbers

• Mueller led the way for the Falcons, hitting 3-of-4 with a double, home run, one run scored and three RBI
• Dillon went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and one RBI for the Green and Gold
• Junior Madison Solt (Salem, NH) took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing eight runs (6 earned) on eight hits and three K's in six innings pitched
• For the Pilgrims, Garcia finished 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI
• Freshman Mackenzie Yirrell (Methuen, MA) earned the victory for New England College, giving up six runs (3 earned) on 11 hits and two strikeouts in the complete game effort

Game Two

New England College grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Giesler tripled to right center before Garcia followed with an RBI single to left field to bring in Giesler. The Pilgrims upped the advantage to 4-0 in the following frame with Grimes lacing a base-clearing double to center field, scoring Garcia, Giesler and Gagne.

The Pilgrims secured the victory in the bottom of the sixth when Gagne laced a base clearing double to left field to drive in junior Julia Maker (Warwick, RI), junior Ashleigh Lemay (Derry, NH) and junior Carlie Panas (Chester, NH), while Lopez followed with an RBI single to left to bring in Garcia, resulting in the 8-0 final

By The Numbers

• Senior Isabella Sousa (Charlton, MA) paced the Falcons, hitting 1-for-3 with a double
• Freshman Lauren Ahearn (Danvers, MA) added one hit for the Green & Gold
• Senior Mackenzie Leveille (Brooklyn, CT) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, yielding four runs on six hits over three innings of work
• For the Pilgrims, Grimes finished 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI
• Freshman Amanda Magro (Phoenix, AZ) collected the victory for New England College, giving up six hits and seven K's in the complete game effort
• 15th meeting between the Falcons and Pilgrims on the softball field with Fitchburg State 11-4 all-time when taking on Pilgrims

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Sunday as they host the Owls of Westfield University for the MASCAC double header, starting at 12:00PM.

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