LEICESTER, Mass. – The New England Pilgrims earned a pair of wins on Saturday afternoon, sweeping the doubleheader as the Hawks celebrated Senior Day in the final week of the regular season.
Prior to the second game, seniors Noah Rivera (New Bedford, Mass.), Mel Gonzalez (Worcester, Mass.), Coby Hussey (Claremont, N.H.), Kevin Santiago (New Bedford, Mass.), Cooper Harris (Winnetka, Ill.), Tevon Johnson (New Bedford, Mass.), and Payton Musco (Litchfield, N.H.) were honored on Senior Day for their contributions to the Hawks program.
THE BASICS
May 1, 2021
Rochdale Park
Becker Hawks 6-14 (6-8 NECC)
New England College Pilgrims 13-13 (11-3 NECC)
GAME ONE: New England 6 – Becker 3
After both teams traded runs in the first inning, the Pilgrims scored twice in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead.
With the bases loaded and two outs, sophomore Michael Ciccotelli (Rochester, N.H.) singled to right field, scoring a pair, and giving NEC a 3-1 lead.
The Pilgrims would add another run in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single to center field by senior Rob Pagliuca (Saugus, Mass.) to extend the NEC lead to 4-1.
In the fifth, sophomore Harutaro Takahashi (Toyko, Japan) hit an RBI double to center field, increasing the lead to 5-1. Takahashi would later score on a passed ball to give NEC a 6-1 edge.
The Hawks would cut the deficit to three in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run that stayed just inside the left-field foul pole by Hussey, cutting the deficit to 6-3.
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For NEC, Ciccotelli batted 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBI. Takahashi finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Senior Connor Morin (North Andover, Mass.) was 2-for-2 and two runs scored.
For Becker, Hussey batted 2-for-3, hitting his first home run of the season. Freshman Carter Jackman (Kanab, Utah) was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Winning Pitcher: Tim Krol (2-1)
Losing Pitcher: Adam Conanan (0-3)
GAME TWO: New England 14 – Becker 6
The Pilgrims offense scored at least one run in all seven innings of game two, as NEC completed the doubleheader sweep in the 14-6 victory.
Leading 1-0 in the top of the first, Morin hit a three-run home run to left field, boosting the Pilgrims lead to 4-0. The Pilgrims would add runs in the second and third to lead 6-0.
Becker broke up the shutout in the bottom of the third, starting with a two-run single by Rivera. Later in the inning, junior Jose Martinez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) hit an RBI single, helping cut the deficit in half, as the Hawks trailed 6-3.
A fourth inning Pilgrims home run by Ciccotelli was answered by Hawks sophomore Niko Mokanos (Montvale, N.J.) in the bottom of the inning, as NEC led 8-5.
Now at 9-6 through five innings, the Pilgrims added plenty of insurance in the sixth, adding three runs on an RBI triple by freshman Garrett Langis (Rochester, N.H.), an RBI single by Morin, and a bases loaded walk.
Langis struck again in the top of the seventh on a ground-rule double, as the Pilgrims went on to win 14-6.
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For NEC, Langis batted 3-for-5, finishing a home run short of the cycle while adding four RBI and two runs scored. Morin finished 2-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored. As a team, NEC had eight extra base hits off 14 total hits.
For Becker, Rivera batted 3-for-4, all singles with two RBI. Mokanos was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Santiago went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Winning Pitcher: Wyatt Cameron (2-4)
Losing Pitcher: Russell Dunlap (3-3)
