Softball Falls to Mt. St. Mary, Edges Minnesota-Morris to Cap Off Spring Break

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team suffered a 12-0 five-inning loss to Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.) and eked by Minnesota-Morris 3-2 on the final day of action at the Gene Cusic Classic Friday.

The Lions return to the Bay State sporting a 4-6 record on the year with the decisions. The Knights improved to 4-3 with the victory while the Cougars dipped to 4-6 after the loss.

Abigail Moore (Sheridan, Calif.) scored a run and posted a team-high three hits on the day, including a pair of doubles. Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.) also landed three base knocks in the two-game set. Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) tallied two hits and crossed the plate once while Sterling Marino (North Kingstown, R.I.) contributed a pair of hit.

In Eastern Nazarene's first contest of the day, Mount Saint Mary plated three runs in the bottom of the second to open the scoring.

Stephanie Karcher tripled to drive in Kate Zubicki and Breanna Depasquale from first and second after back-to-back walks. Ashley Peel followed with a sacrifice fly to left, allowing Karcher to tag up and score.

A nine-run outburst in the fourth swelled the Knights lead to 12-0.

Tovar struck out two batters in her fifth appearance in the pitcher's circle this spring for the Lions.

Eastern Nazarene battled Minnesota-Morris in its 10th game at the Gene Cusic Classic.

The Cougars got on the board in the home half of the second, tallying a run to seize a 1-0 edge. Jordan Iverson belted her first home run of the season to lead off the frame.

The Lions responded with a pair of scores in the top of the third inning to claim a 2-1 advantage. After cranking a one-out double, Moore rounded third and crossed the plate as Marino singled then advanced on a throwing error. Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) drove in Eastern Nazarene's shortstop from third as she got aboard on a fielder's choice.

Minnesota-Morris pushed across the tying run in the bottom of the frame as Molly Olson doubled home Alex Anderson.

Eastern Nazarene manufactured the go-ahead run in the seventh to take a 3-2 lead. Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) laced a single to lead off the inning and came around to score on a throwing error as Marino reached base with one out.

The Cougars threatened in the bottom of the inning as Meghan Pomeroy slapped a two-out pinch-hit double. The Lions recovered as Cicolini induced a groundout to seal the win.

Cicolini spun her fifth complete game of the year to improve to 4-1 in the pitcher's circle. The junior posted four strikeouts in the contest and yielded one earned run and one walk.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene is slated to visit Newbury March 19 in its first doubleheader New England.