New England College softball split a double-header with visiting Johnson State College Thursday afternoon, falling to Badgers 10-2 and game one but rebounding for the 7-4 game two victory.

 

With the split the Pilgrims move to 5-7 overall and 1-3 in North Atlantic Conference play, while the Badgers are now 3-11 overall and 3-1 in the NAC.

 

In game one the Badgers would take the 4-2 lead in the top half of the fifth inning and tack on six runs in the seventh en route to the 10-2 victory.

 

NEC would start the scoring in the home half of the first as Taylor Belsito would double down the left field line and come around to score on a Rebecca Allen double off the center field fence. Allen would then come around to score on Badger error.  Johnson would plate a run in the second as Sara Voorhis would single to center and eventually come around to score.

 

The Badgers would tack on two runs on four straight singles in the fourth and then string together seven hits in the seventh, including a two-run double by Kelsey Taylor and a triple by Voorhis.

 

Johnson pounded out 18 hits, including Kelsey Taylor and Andrea Williams both finished the game with two hits and two runs batted in.  Leading the way for NEC was Taylor Belsito and Rebecca Allen who notch two hits each.

 

Picking up the win on the mound for Johnson was Andrea Williams who allowed just one earned run, while striking out 11 Pilgrims.

 

In game two the Pilgrims would strike in the opening inning as Taylor Belsito would double to left field followed by an Alexandra Swanson double to center scoring Belsito. NEC would tack on three additional runs in the second, highlighted by a Swanson two run single.

 

Johnson would battle back plating single two runs in the fourth, a run in the fifth and the game-tying run in the sixth knotting the game at 4-4.  NEC's Olivia Stanley would open the home half of the sixth with a single, advance to second on a wild pitch and score thanks to a Kiley Williams infield hit.  Belstio would then walk and Swanson would come through with another huge hit doubling in Williams and Belsito giving NEC the 7-4 lead.

 

Johnson would threaten in the top half of the seventh but the NEC defense would keep them off the board solidifying the 7-4 victory.

 

Picking up the win on the mound for NEC was Olivia Stanley who allowed four earned runs while striking out three.

 

NEC's Alexandra Swanson finished game two 3-for-4 at the plate with five runs driven in, while Colleen Holt and Kiley Williams each singled twice for the Pilgrims.

 

Johnson's Anna Bingham was 3-for-4 at the plate in game two, with a double, a run scored and a run batted in, while Shannon Grier and Sara Voorhis each singled twice.

 

NEC returns to action on Saturday, April 12 when they host NAC foe Thomas College.  Johnson will hit the field again on Saturday, April 12 when they travel to take on NAC opponent Maine Maritime Academy.