Softball Suffers Two Losses on Final Day in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team wrapped up its trip to the Sunshine State with a pair of losses Thursday, falling to Olivet 5-2 and Penn State-Behrend 3-0.

The Lions return to the Bay State with a 2-8 overall record. The Comets started the spring with a 1-0 mark while the Penn State-Behrend Lions jumped to 4-6.

In the opening tilt of the day, Olivet struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Terri Hurosky doubled down the left field line to drive in Lorren Springer. Ciara Santos followed with an RBI as she grounded out to the shortstop.

Eastern Nazarene clawed back with a run in the second to cut the deficit to 2-1. Sterling Marino (North Kingstown, R.I.) singled with one out and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Abigail Moore (Sheridan, Calif.). Jamie Block (Pembroke, Mass.) plated Marino with a single to left with two outs.

The Comets built on their lead in the third, tacking on two runs to grab a 4-1 edge. Lindsey Maas came around to score on a single to right by Marlene Packer. Santos laced a single through the left side of the infield to plate Packer from second.

The Lions tallied a run in the bottom half of the third to pull to within two, 4-2. Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.) trotted home on a throwing error by the catcher as Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) swiped second.

Olivet restored its lead to three in the fourth, 5-2, as Santos drove in her third run of the game with a two-out double to right.

The Comets extended their advantage to 6-2 in the final frame. Packer recorded her second RBI of the day, a one-out single to center to plate Springer from second.

Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) tossed her second complete game of the season while racking up five strikeouts.

In the clash of the Lions, Penn State-Behrend scored early in the game as it knocked in a run with two away in the first to grab a 1-0 edge.

Penn State-Behrend added a run in the third before capping off the scoring with a tally in the fourth.

Up next, the Lions will look to snap an eight-game skid as they visit Newbury March 16 in their first doubleheader in New England. Eastern Nazarene will look to avenge a 6-0 loss to the Nighthawks in Florida earlier this season.