Softball Edged by Wittenberg, Northland in Sunshine State

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team dropped a pair of decisions Monday, falling to Wittenberg 1-0 and Northland 8-4 as part of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.

The Lions move to 2-2 on the year with the losses. The Tigers improved to 1-0 overall with the win while the Lumberjills rise to 2-0 on the season.

Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) paced Eastern Nazarene with four base knocks on the day and two runs batted in. Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.) collected a pair of hits while Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) drove in a pair of runs.

In game one, Tovar walked to lead off the third and recorded the Lions' first hit of the day in the top of the fourth as she raked a single to left.

Eastern Nazarene threatened in the sixth but was unable to break the scoreless tie. Sterling Marino (North Kingstown, R.I.) started the frame with a single to left and advanced to second on an infield single by Tovar with one out. Kori Sorensen (Quincy, Mass.) reached first on a fielder's choice as Marino moved up to third. The Tigers were able to escape the inning unscathed as pitcher J Williams was able to record the third out of the inning.

Wittenberg tallied its lone run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rachel Ross singled to right and moved into scoring position as Ashlee Wright executed a sacrifice bunt to advance Ross to second with one out. After Ross stole third, Kaitie Harrison knocked her in with a single to right field.

Sorensen logged six innings in the pitcher's circle for her second-straight complete game. The sophomore racked up six strikeouts while allowing six hits and two walks.

In the second game of the day, the Lions struck first as Cicolini singled home Tovar for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Northland answered with a pair of scores in the home half of the frame as Sam Bona scampered home on an error and Kaitlyn Witthun drove in Jayna Loy from third with a single.

The Lumberjills tacked on their third run of the contest in the second to stretch the lead to 3-1. Sierra Earley led off with a single and came around to score on a one-out double by Angelena Koosman.

Northland added a run in the fourth to claim a 4-1 advantage. A fielding error allowed Koosman to cross the plate with two away in the inning.

The Lumberjills extended the gap to six with a three-run fifth inning to go up 7-1. Koosman singled to center to plate Earley and Stephanie Wilkinson with two outs before sliding into home safely on a wild pitch.

Loy laced a lead-off triple to open the bottom of the sixth inning and Erin Roembke drove her in with a groundout to the right side of the infield to give Northland an 8-1 margin.

The Lions pushed three runs across the plate in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to 8-4. After Britny Costa (New Bedford, Mass.) reached base on a fielder's choice, Sorensen drew a two-out walk to give Eastern Nazarene a pair of runners aboard. Clinkscale followed with a two-run double to drive in both Costa and Sorensen. Cicolini recorded her second RBI of the game as she landed a single in right field to allow Clinkscale to score from second base.

Jamie Block (Pembroke, Mass.) pitched all six innings for Eastern Nazarene to register a complete game. The senior struck out four batters while scattering nine hits and three earned runs.

Up next, the Lions continue non-league action at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic with four games on tap March 5. Eastern Nazarene will take on Hiram, Newbury, Wilmington (Ohio) and Kenyon in the Sunshine State.