HENNIKER, NH- Thomas College baseball split a doubleheader with host New England College Monday afternoon, coming out on top in game one 1-0 but falling to the Pilgrims in game two 6-1.
With the split the Terriers improve to 9-14 overall and 8-2 in NAC play. The Pilgrims are now 2-14 on the season and pick up their first NAC victory improving to 1-11 in conference.
GAME ONE
The two teams would battle through the opening five innings scoreless before Thomas would open the top of the sixth with a double off the bat of Colby Vigue (Skowhegan, Maine). Vigue would then come around to score on a single over the center fielders head off the bat of Dillon Emerson (Concord, N.H.).
The Pilgrims would threaten in the home half of the seventh inning as Chris Wallace (Manchester, N.H.) and Conor Crouse (West Haven, Conn.) would both reach on errors and Kevin Caputo (Taunton, Mass.) would load the bases with a walk but the Terriers would get the final outs to hold on for the 1-0 victory.
Thomas' Jeff Richardson (Rochester, N.H.) collected two hits in game one for the Terriers. Picking up the win on the mound was Jake Chamblee (South Berwick, Maine) who allowed five hits and struck out five in six innings of work. Thomas Cameron (Jackson, M.E.) silenced the Pilgrims in the seventh inning recording his first save of the season.
NEC's Kevin Caputo and Christopher Smith (Raynham, Mass.) each singled twice for the Pilgrims. On the mound for the Pilgrims was Francesco Dire (Barrington, R.I.) who allowed just the one earned run on six hits, while striking out five.
GAME TWO
The Pilgrims scored four runs in the opening inning and tacked on runs in both the second and third inning en route to the 6- 1 victory. Thomas would score their lone run of the game in the top of the second as Terrell Boudreau (Manchester, N.H.) drove in Vigue on a sacrifice fly to center.
Conor Crouse was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Picking up the win on the mound for the Pilgrims was Christopher Smith who allowed just one earned run on seven hits and struck out six.
Dillon Dunbar (Saco, Maine) was charged with the loss for the Terriers, tossing two innings and yielding five earned runs. C.J. Pendleton (Saco, Maine) pitched four innings of solid relief, giving up no earned runs with two strikeouts.