FRANKLIN, Mass. – March 25, 2024 – The Dean College baseball team was edged by New England College, 4-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) home opener at the Longley Athletic Complex Monday afternoon.

Dean (3-7, 0-2 GNAC) is scheduled to host Nichols on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. New England College (2-13, 1-0 GNAC) will play a doubleheader at Mitchell on Friday.

Five Bulldogs had hits in the game. Senior Kyle Lancaster (Dartmouth, Mass.) knocked in the team's lone run with a single in the ninth inning.

First-year Nick Swain (South Portland, Maine) suffered the loss for Dean after six innings of work. He surrendered two runs on three hits and struck out four.

Junior Austin Hazzard (Weare, N.H.) picked up his second win of the season for NEC. He struck out six and did not allow a run on two hits. Junior Corey O'Day (Nashua, N.H.) earned the save by pitching the final three innings. He gave up a run on three hits and struck out five.

After five scoreless innings, the Pilgrims plated a pair in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Ryan Cote (Goffstown, N.H.) and Tyler Gendron (Milford, N.H.) each had an RBI single to the outfield in the inning.

NEC doubled its lead with two runs in the seventh. Brady Philibotte (Weare, N.H.) doubled home a run and then came around on a Brett Patnode (Weare, N.H.) single to left.

The Bulldogs rallied in the ninth to get a run on the board when Kyle Lancaster singled in sophomore Gavin Goss (Glenwood Landing, N.Y.) who reached on a single. The Pilgrims were able to get out of the jam, stranding a pair of runners, to secure the 4-1 victory.

Philibotte and Gendron each had two hits for the Pilgrims.