CASTLETON, Vt. – The top-seeded Spartans had the tying run on third base with just one out but couldn't drive it in as they fell to fourth seeded New England College 3-2 in the opening contest of the NAC Tournament.

Castleton's Stephanie Sylvester led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice fly, but she was stranded as NEC's Debra Mazzeo induced back-to-back foul outs to end the contest.

Mazzeo tossed a complete game for the Pilgrims in victory, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out a pair of batters. Rebecca Allen added two hits and two RBI to pace the offense.

Sophomore Kayla Wood took the loss, going 7.0 innings and giving up six hits and three earned runs with two walks and eight strikeouts. Jessica Babcock went 1-for-2 with a run and RBI for the Spartans.

The Pilgrims opened the scoring in the top of the second when Shawnie Clark ripped a one-out triple to right field. She trotted home on a single by Rachel Kerrigan for the 1-0 advantage. However, Wood got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

NEC added to its lead an inning later as Maranda Johnson was hit by a pitch with one out. She stole second one batter later and came around to score on a bloop single towards the right field line for the 2-0 advantage.

Timi Carone drew a four-pitch walk to start the bottom of the frame and advanced to second on a single to centerfield by Kristi Lawless. Kayla Daigle bunted the runners over and Babcock followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Castleton looked like it was going to get out of the fifth with two quick outs, but Johnson drew a walk to extend the inning. Then with two strikes, Wood hit Rebecca Allen to put two runners one. Brittney Distante came through with a single to centerfield to extend the lead to 3-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, Babcock led off with a double to the wall in centerfield and Brittany Brayman followed with a double to trim the NEC lead to 3-2. Howver, Brayman was stranded as each of the next three hitters failed to get on base.