Softball Falls to Wartburg, Rallies Past Rockford Monday

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team posted a 1-1 record on the day at the Gene Cusic Classic. The Lions fell to Wartburg 8-0 in six innings before outlasting Rockford in extra innings, prevailing 8-7 for head coach Stephanie Gillett's first victory at the helm of the program.

Eastern Nazarene progresses to 1-3 on the season with the results. Wartburg improved to 2-6 overall with the win while Rockford fell to 1-3 on the year.

Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.) paced the Lions offensively with five hits, two RBIs and one run scored. Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) collected three base knocks on the day, crossed the plate once and stole a base. Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) landed a pair of hits, scored a run and swiped two bags. Kendra Brasil (Methuen, Mass.), Krystal Holl (Hagerstown, Md.) and Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) each drove in a run for Eastern Nazarene.

In the opening contest of the day, the Lions fell behind early as Wartburg tallied a run in the top of the first to claim a 1-0 edge.

The Knights tacked on a run in the fourth to double their lead to 2-0 and added a score in the fifth to extend the margin to 3-0.

Wartburg erupted for five runs in the top of the sixth frame to stretch the advantage to 8-0.

Tovar led the Lions at the plate with two base knocks while also tossing six innings in her second pitching appearance of the spring. Clinkscale picked up Eastern Nazarene's only other base hit in the game.

In the Lions' second game of the day, Rockford scored twice in the top of the second to capture a 2-0 lead.

Eastern Nazarene responded in the bottom half of the frame with two scores to level the contest at 2-2. Holl scored on a throwing error to get the Lions on the board as Shelby Bass (Visalia, Calif.) dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Bass came around to score on a one-out squeeze bunt by Brasil.

The Regents reclaimed a 3-2 lead in the top of the third as Stefany Kenworthy scored on a single by Lisa Blakeley-Snyder.

Eastern Nazarene tied the contest at 3-3 in the fifth inning as Abigail Moore (Sheridan, Calif.) scampered home from third base on a wild pitch.

Rockford grabbed a 4-3 edge in the seventh on a single by Ali Moore to drive in Kenworthy.

The Lions clawed back with a run in the bottom of the inning to even the game at 4-4. Sterling Marino (North Kingstown, R.I.) landed a one-out double in left-center before scoring on a throwing error as Tovar picked up an infield single.

In the top of the first bonus frame, the Regents chalked up a run to go ahead 5-4. Blakeley-Snyder crossed the plate after a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Maranda Walker.

Eastern Nazarene answered with the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Holl scored her second run of the game on an infield single by Losano.

Rockford tallied a pair of scores in the top of the ninth to seize a 7-5 lead. Kenworthy and Moore each smacked RBI doubles for the Regents in the frame.

The Lions rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning to score three times en route to securing their first win of the season. With runners on second and third, Tovar knocked a single into centerfield to drive in Clinkscale and Cicolini.

Holl plated the game-winning run with a single to center to score Tovar from second base with two away in the inning.

Cicolini hurled a complete game, fanning seven batters in nine innings of work in the pitcher's circle.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene returns to the diamond to square off against in-state foes Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Salem State.