HENNIKER, N.H. – The Johnson State College softball team fell to New England College 3-1 and 4-3 in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

GAME 1: NEC 3, JOHNSON 1

In the top of the fourth, Abby McRae (Milton, Vt.) reached on a throwing error and took second on the overthrow. This set up Kaitlynn Woodward (White River, Vt.) for an RBI double down the left field line to plate the first run of the game. The Pilgrims answered in the bottom of the inning, when Shawnie Clark singled and advanced all the way to third on a misplay by the left fielder. She came in to score on a fielder's choice, tying the game at 1-1. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Alexa Scribner led off with an infield single, stole second, and came around to score the go-ahead run on a double to left-center by Clark. Clark scored her second run of the game on a single by Julia D'Andrea to give NEC the 3-1 victory.

Pitching

Taylor Barbour earned the win, allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings. Woodward was tagged with the loss, allowing two earned runs on five hits.

Hitting – Johnson

Kaitlynn Woodward: 2-3, 2B, RBI

Hitting – NEC

Shawnie Clark: 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 Runs

GAME 2: NEC 4, JOHNSON 3

The Pilgrims struck early in game two, as lead-off batter Rachel Senechal scored from second on an error in the outfield. NEC tacked on a second run in the second on a bases-loaded single back to the pitcher by Senechal to score Joslyn Gallager. In the bottom of the third, Clark led off with a triple to right-center. D'Andrea needed just one pitch to drive her home, smacking a single up the middle to put NEC on top, 3-0.

The Badgers scored three runs in the top of the fifth to tie the score at 3-3, including two runs on a bases-loaded single to right field by Nicole Mooney (Hillsborough, N.H.). The next batter, Mikaela Magnant (Franklin, Vt.), hit another single to right field to plate the third run.

NEC took back the lead in the sixth, with a Aiblhin O'Connor double to center field set up an RBI double by Chanel Welch that gave NEC the 4-3 lead for good.

Pitching

Barbour earned her second win of the day, coming in in relief in the fifth inning and allowing no hits and no runs in 2.1 innings of work. Magnant got the loos, allowing three earned runs on 11 hits.

Hitting - Johnson

Nicole Mooney: 1-4, 2 RBI

Hitting – NEC

Rachel Senechal: 2-4, RBI, Run

Next Up

Johnson will host Castleton on a NAC doubleheader on Monday, April 30 at 3:00 p.m.

Portions Courtesy of NEC Sports Information