Softball Suffers Two Setbacks at Salve Regina

NEWPORT, R.I.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team dropped a pair of contests on the road at Salve Regina in its first Commonwealth Coast Conference twinbill of the season Monday. The Lions slip to 2-10 on the year and 0-2 in league play with losses of 9-2 and 9-0. The Seahawks elevate to 7-7 overall and 2-0 against conference opponents.

Jamie Block (Pembroke, Mass.) landed a team-best three hits in the two-game set. Abigail Moore (Sheridan, Calif.) picked up her first two base knocks of the season while also driving in an RBI. Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) and Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) each recorded a pair of hits on the day.

In game one, Salve Regina struck first to grab a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Jillian Quintana blasted a lead-off homer. The Seahawks tacked on two runs in the top of the fourth to stretch their advantage to three, 3-0, on a two-run double to left by Jennifer Edine.

Eastern Nazarene got a run back in the home half of the frame to trim the deficit to 3-1. Moore laced a two-out single to left to drive in Kori Sorensen (Quincy, Mass.) from second to pick up her first RBI of the season.

Salve Regina added a pair of runs in the fifth to claim a 5-1 edge. Lauren Nicholson led off the inning with her first home run of the spring, a solo shot to left-center. Jen Cruver scampered home from second with two outs in the frame as Quintana reached on an error.

The Seahawks tallied four runs in the sixth to widen the gap to eight, 9-1. Cruver and Ali Muehlbronner each recorded RBI singles with one away. Muehlbronner and Genevieve Benoit both crossed the plate on a throwing error as Melissa Figueiredo dropped down a sacrifice bunt.

The Lions notched their second run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth. Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) scored from third as Cicolini got aboard after a throwing error.

Sorensen pitched her fifth complete game of the year and fanned five batters for Eastern Nazarene.

In the nightcap, Salve Regina broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third as Megan Jakiela launched a grandslam over the fence in left, 4-0. Jakiela's homer marked the Seahawks' first hit of the second contest.

The Seahawks added a run in the fourth as Nicholson motored home on a throwing error to forge ahead 5-0.

Salve Regina capped off the scoring with four runs in the seventh. Jakiela, Cruver and Sara Nelson all collected RBIs for the Seahawks.

Britny Costa (New Bedford, Mass.) tossed seven innings to log her second complete game of the 2012-13 campaign. The rookie racked up four strikeouts and allowed four earned runs.

Up next, the Lions visit Gordon March 27 in a CCC doubleheader.