Softball Drops CCC Doubleheader at Roger Williams

BRISTOL, R.I.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team suffered a pair of losses to Roger Williams Saturday afternoon in league play. The Lions absorbed a 9-3 setback in the opening contest before falling 11-1 in five innings in the second game.

Eastern Nazarene slides to 6-8 on the season and 2-2 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Hawks improve to 7-7 overall and 2-0 in league action with the wins.

Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) and Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.) each collected a pair of hits and drove in one RBI on the afternoon. Abigail Moore (Sheridan, Calif.) notched two base hits and crossed the plate once. Shelby Bass (Visalia, Calif.) and Sterling Marino (North Kingstown, R.I.) each recorded an RBI on the day.

In game one, Roger Williams got on the board in the top of the first with two runs. With runners on the corners, Delaney Burns laced a two-run double to centerfield to drive in Samantha Mittel and Chelsea Boulrisse.

The Lions responded with a pair of scores in the home half of the first inning to tie the contest at 2-2. Marino plated Moore from second base with an RBI single down the left field line. Tovar leveled the game with a run-scoring single to left as Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) trotted home from third with two outs.

The Hawks chalked up three runs in the second to grab a 5-2 advantage. Meghan Maliga scored on a double down the left field line by Taylor Messier. Alicia McCauley crossed the plate as Boulrisse grounded out to the shortstop. McCauley scored Roger Williams' third run of the inning as she scampered home from third on a single up the middle by Mittel.

Roger Williams added three scores in the fifth to stretch the margin to six, 8-2. After Caroline Atkinson led off the inning with a triple, McCauley lined a single to right to drive Atkinson in. McCauley came around to score as Boulrisse reached base on a fielder's choice. Burns landed a single to right to plate Boulrisse from second base.

The Hawks tacked on a run in the sixth to push the score to 9-2 as Atkinson singled to left field to drive in Veronica Alicea.

Eastern Nazarene tallied a run in the bottom of the seventh frame to cap off the scoring. After Bass advanced to third on a wild pitch, Losano batted a one-out single up the middle to plate the rookie from third.

Cicolini tossed her seventh complete game of the season and struck out three batters.

In the second contest of the day, Roger Williams got on the board in the second inning with four runs. Meredith Moise raked a two-run triple to left-center to plate Tori Milano and Mikaela Grosso. Messier followed with an RBI double to left to score Moise. Messier crossed the plate on a single to left off the bat of Mittel.

The Hawks logged two scores in the fourth to extend their lead to 6-0 as Atkinson picked up a pair of RBIs on a two-out double to left.

Roger Williams pushed across five runs in the fifth frame to widen the gap to 11-0.

Eastern Nazarene manufactured one run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 11-1. Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) tagged up and motored home from third as Bass lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Tovar went the distance in the pitcher's circle for the fifth time this season and registered one strikeout.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene is slated to host its first home doubleheader of the spring April 1 against UMaine-Farmington.