Henniker, N.H. – The New England College first-year shortstop Pierce Byrd (Ft. Myers, Fla.) was a combined 5-for-6 at the plate leading the Pilgrims to a sweep of conference opponent Wentworth Institute of Technology, beating the Leopards 4-2 in game one and holding on for the 4-3 victory in game two.
With a single in game two, Wentworth senior Jake McManus (Hopkinton, N.H.) became the program's all-time hit leader.
With the wins the Pilgrims improve to 10-19 overall and 6-13 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC). The losses drop the Leopards to 21-12 overall and 13-7 in the TCCC.
In game one NEC's Chris Wallace (Manchester, N.H.) would pick up the complete game victory on the mound allowing just one earned run on five hits.
NEC would start the scoring in the home half of the third inning as Lucas Burgess (Bath, N.H.) would be hit by a pitch and score on a triple to center field by Byrd.
Wentworth would get the run back in the fourth inning as Ben Danker (Branford, Conn.) would reach base on a one-out single, advance to third on an error and score thanks to a sacrifice fly to center field by Justin Bolla (Groveland, Mass.).
NEC would regain the one run lead in the bottom of the fourth as PJ Crowley (Pawcatuck, Conn.) would open the inning with a double to center field and eventually come around to score on a sacrifice fly by Chris Biskup (S. Portland, Maine).
The Leopards would knot the game at 2-2 as Doug Papuga (Branford, Conn.) would leadoff the fifth inning with a solo homerun to left field. The Pilgrims would plate two more runs in the sixth as Burgess would reach on a double to right field, followed by an intentional walk to Kevin Caputo (Dighton, Mass.). Burgess would score on a run scoring single by Chris Gagne (Rochester, N.H.) and Caputo would score on a two out single by Jimmy Lauzon (Manchester, N.H.).
Sophomore Alex Wong (Lewiston, Maine) took the loss (3-2) for the Leopards with his fourth straight complete game.
In game two the Pilgrims would plate two runs in the sixth inning and hold off a late Wentworth surge capturing the 4-3 victory.
NEC would go up 2-0 in the second inning as Crowley would open the inning with a walk and score on a Bandon Adorno (Ft. Myers, Fla.) double to right field. Adorno would then come around to score on single down the left field line by Burgess.
Wentworth would tie the game at 2-2 in the top half of the sixth inning as Jon Spitz (Hanover, Mass.) would walk followed by three straight singles from Delgado, Danker and McManus. Mike Diodato (Asbury, N.J.) would then pick up a run batted in hitting into a fielder's choice. McManus' hit was the 144th of his career, surpassing former Leopard standout and current assistant coach Pete Oggeri '10.
NEC's Byrd and Gerry Allen (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) would open the sixth with back-to-back singles and Burgess would come up huge with a two-out two-run double to center plating both Byrd and Allen to give the Pilgrims the 4-2 lead.
The Wentworth offense would not give up as the Leopards would get a two-out double by Matt Jordan (Concord, N.H.) who would then score on a double from Spitz but NEC's Tyler Perrin (Thetford, Vt.) would get a flyout to end the game.
Picking up the win on the mound for NEC was Perrin who allowed one earned run on three hits. Junior Nick Colanto (Beverly, Mass.) suffered his first defeat of the season (4-1).
Leading the Pilgrims at the plate in game two was Lucas Burgess who finished with two hits and three runs driven in.
NEC returns to action on Thursday, April 28 when they host conference opponent Gordon College in a single game make-up rescheduled from April 18.
Wentworth will take the field Thursday, April 28 when they close out their regular season on the road squaring off against conference foe Salve Regina University.
-Portions of this release courtesy of New England College Sports Information-
