Every Friday, the NE10 is going to highlight the biggest contests each weekend. It may be a big-time rivalry, matchup between two ranked teams or a battle for playoff-positioning. Fans can follow the action for every game by visiting our schedule page.
BASEBALL
Franklin Pierce at Assumption: April 1 – 3:30 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)
Franklin Pierce at Assumption: April 2 – 12:00 p.m. (DH) (Live Stats – Video)
Franklin Pierce at Assumption: April 3 – 12:00 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)
Franklin Pierce, who is receiving votes in the latest NCBWA rankings, will travel to play Assumption in a four-game set this weekend in Worcester. The Ravens (13-5, 4-0 NE10) have won eight-straight games, including a four-game sweep of Bentley to begin conference play. The Greyhounds (10-8, 3-1 NE10) are also riding a hot streak, winning six of their last seven and coming off a 3-1 weekend at Saint Anselm.
Assumption's Jack Choate was named NE10 Pitcher of the Week on Monday after a seven-inning shutout win over Saint Anselm last weekend – striking out a remarkable 19 batters and surrendering just two hits. Franklin Pierce has an ace of its own in Patrick Hannon, who is 4-0 in five starts this season with a 1.57 ERA and a stunning 39-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Franklin Pierce swept the four-game series against Assumption in 2021.
Adelphi at Pace: April 2 – 11:00 a.m. (DH) (Live Stats – Video)
Adelphi at Pace: April 3 – 12:00 p.m. (DH) (Live Stats – Video)
Adelphi, one of the hottest baseball teams in the NE10, will get a tough road test this weekend when it visits Pace for a four-game set. The Panthers (13-4, 4-0 NE10) have won eight-consecutive games, including a pair of wins against No. 11 SNHU, while the Setters (11-7, 3-1 NE10) won three of four contests at New Haven last weekend to start conference play.
A trio of Adelphi hitters – Kyle Olson (.492), Matt Alifano (.459) and Michael Draskin (.429) – lead all NE10 players in batting average this season, as the Panthers sport one of the most dangerous lineups in the league. Matt Almonte leads Pace on offense with a .394 average, six home runs and 20 RBI at the dish this season, while right-hander Patrick Gleason has led the charge on the mound with a 2.33 ERA through 27.0 innings pitched.
SOFTBALL
New Haven at Franklin Pierce: April 2 – 2 p.m. (DH) (Live Stats - Video)
The Ravens put their perfect 14-0 record on the line when they host the Chargers on Saturday, looking to improve to 4-0 in conference play. Franklin Pierce leads the NE10 in batting (.333), slugging (.523) and on-base percentage (.523) while posting the second lowest ERA in the NE10 (1.45). New Haven is 9-9 but has won five of its last seven contests. The Chargers are hitting .226 this year but are fourth in the NE10 with a 3.04 ERA.
Leading the Raven offense this year is the duo of Ashley Cangiano and Gina Hinckley the duo are hitting .459 and .424 while combining for 24 runs, six triples, six home runs and 34 RBI. Abbey Primavera, meanwhile, is 5-0 with two saves and a 0.79 ERA in 35.2 innings. Nahtali Simpson has paced New Haven on offense, batting .289 with 13 hits, 15 runs, 12 RBI and 13 walks.
SNHU at Saint Rose: April 2 – 2 p.m. (DH) (Live Stats - Video)
The Golden Knights (7-12, 3-1 NE10) look to keep up their hot start to conference play as they host the Penmen who are 8-12 overall and 2-2 in the NE10. St. Rose has scored at least two runs in eight straight games overall and rank fourth in the NE10 with 14 steals. SNHU, meanwhile, has won 4 of 6 but ranks 10th in the NE10 with a .240 batting average.
SNHU has been led on offense by Chloe Griffin and Bella Dickinson. They're batting .293 and .283 with a combined 34 hits, 20 runs, five home runs and 22 RBI. Gwyn Hammond, has a team-best 5-3 record in 47.2 innings despite starting only one contest. St. Rose freshman Hannah Breen has had a strong start to her year, throwing 53.2 innings to go with a 3-4 record, 2.48 ERA and 51 strikeouts. Madison Chandler has paced the offense, batting .339 with 21 hits, three triples and 14 RBI.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
No. 3 Adelphi at No. 20 Saint Anselm: April 2 – 12:00 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)
It will be a top-20 showdown when No. 3 Adelphi visits No. 20 Saint Anselm on Saturday, as both teams look to remain unbeaten in conference play. The Panthers (7-0, 4-0 NE10) and Hawks (6-1, 4-0 NE10) are the only remaining programs currently undefeated against NE10 opponents, but that will only be the case for one after Saturday.
Saint Anselm is one of only three NE10 teams with a pair of 30-point scorers this season, as Lexi Palmisano (31 points) and Jess Sullivan (30 points) lead the Hawks' offense. Adelphi's top nationally-ranked defense will look to shut down the scoring tandem, as the Panthers have only allowed 5.44 goals per game to opponents through seven contests. Adelphi's Alexandra Beebe has a team-high 12 caused turnovers – one of four Panthers with double-digit caused turnovers this season.
No. 18 Stonehill at No. 21 New Haven: April 2 – 1:00 p.m. (Live Stats – Video)
No. 21 New Haven, coming off a stunning road upset of No. 5 Le Moyne on Wednesday, looks to keep the momentum rolling when No. 18 Stonehill visits on Saturday. It is part of a difficult three-game stretch for the Chargers (6-2, 2-2 NE10), with a road game at Le Moyne, followed by two home games against Stonehill and No. 14 Pace. The Skyhawks (6-2, 4-1 NE10) are coming off a tight 18-17 loss at home against No. 19 Assumption.
Stonehill's offense is led by Lydia Rudden (50 points) and Emma Sullivan (41 points) – the top two point scorers among all NE10 players this season. Sullivan is tied for a league-high with 31 goals, while Rudden has tallied a league-best 32 assists. New Haven's Reagan Bailey is a top-scorer in her own right, ranking third in the league in goals (29) and fifth in points (34). Bailey had a seven-point game (six goals, one assist) in the upset win over Le Moyne on Wednesday.
MEN'S LACROSSE
No. 16 Bentley at No. 12 Saint Anselm: April 2 - 3 p.m. (Live Stats - Video)
The Falcons look to keep up their perfect NE10 record (4-0) and improve to 6-1 overall when they travel to face a tough Hawks squad on Saturday. Saint Anselm has lost three straight, including a pair of conference games to Le Moyne and Adelphi by a combined three goals as the team is 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the NE10.
Bentley ranks second in the NE10 in scoring (14.2) while the Hawks are third (14.0). The biggest difference is on the defensive end where the Falcons have only allowed two opponents to score over five goals, while Saint Anselm is allowing over 10 per contest. Despite those numbers, CJ Hart has been strong in net, posting a 10.24 GAA in six starts with 63 saves and a 52.9 save percentage for the Hawks. Luke Jaber leads Bentley's offense with 18 goals and eight assists while Ben Bandasaro has 15 goals.
No. 9 Pace at SNHU: April 2 - 7 p.m. (Live Stats - Video)
The Setters are 6-1 this year after Le Moyne took them down 14-6 earlier this week. It's the first time they've been held under 13 goals all season. SNHU, meanwhile, is just 1-3 overall but all three losses are to teams ranked in the top-12 nationally. Most recently the Penmen fell 21-8 to Le Moyne last Saturday.
Despite the loss, Pace still ranks first in the NE10 in scoring at 16.4 goals per game and first with 99 caused turnovers. The Setters' Louis Ragusa has been outstanding in net, leading the NE10 in save percentage (62.0) while ranking second in goals against (6.72). Offensively, Kyle Casey leads the NE10 with 36 points on 22 goals and 14 assists. Jack Terrones had a team-high 14 goals while Gennaro Marra has won 66.4 percent of his faceoffs this year, with 49 ground balls.
