HENNIKER, N.H.- The Norwich Softball team continued Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division action Tuesday afternoon with a twin bill against New England College, with the Pilgrims emerging with a sweep.

The Cadets were off and running in the first game, breaking the ice in the top of the first. With Courtney Thomas (Strafford, N.H.) on first with two down, Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) brought her home with an RBI triple down the right field line.

Both Madison DeCota (Strafford, N.H.) and NEC hurler Amanda Magro traded zeros on the scoreboard until the Pilgrims took the lead with three runs in the fourth. The lead lasted until the sixth when the Cadets mustered a two-out rally. Hailey Williams (Tamaqua, Pa.) tripled home Kennedy White (Randolph Center, Vt.), who led the frame off with a free pass, to close the gap. Williams came home in the next at-bat on a DeCota RBI single to tie the game.

NEC took home the win in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh. DeCota shined for Norwich both in the batter's box (2-4, RBI) and in the circle, allowing three runs in six innings of work while striking out five.

The Pilgrims carried the momentum from game one into game two, plating three runs in the first. The Cadets answered with a run of their own in the second with three consecutive two-out singles, the ladder of which saw Kelcie Petrone (Redding, Conn.) bring home Rachel Kempf (Warwick, R.I.).

NEC answered with a run in the home half of the second, but Norwich remained within striking distance by answering with two runs in the third. After a leadoff single by Williams, she came home on a two-base error, which put Thomas at third. She would come across on a McGinn double, making it a one-run contest. However, the Pilgrims padded their lead with four runs in the fifth. In the sixth, three straight doubles by McGinn, Emily Munson (Angleton, Texas), and Kempf produced two runs before the Pilgrims posted six runs in the home half of the sixth, bringing game two to an early conclusion.

The Cadets will continue their road trip with a stop at Vermont State Castleton on April 9 for a doubleheader starting at 3 PM.