Clinkscale’s Two Homers Power Softball to Split with Western New England

QUINCY, Mass.- Behind a pair of homers by senior Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.), the Eastern Nazarene softball team salvaged a doubleheader split against Western New England Friday at Mitchell/McCoy Field.

The Golden Bears claimed game one 8-1 before the Lions bounced back to earn a 4-3 victory in the second contest.

Eastern Nazarene moves to 7-13 on the spring and 3-9 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. Western New England progresses to 10-11 overall and 6-4 in league action.

Clinkscale paced the Lions with three hits, four RBIs and a pair of runs scored on the afternoon. Abigail Moore (Sheridan, Calif.) collected three hits in the twinbill and drove in one RBI. Sterling Marino (North Kingstown, R.I.) added a base knock and crossed the plate once.

Clinkscale's two blasts marks the first time a Lion went yard twice in one game since Amber Burns belted a pair of homers March 7, 2011 against Newbury.

Western New England pushed across a run in the top of the first inning to claim a 1-0 edge. Emily Mastropaolo landed an RBI single to center to drive in Jocelyn Agnelli from third base.

The Golden Bears doubled their advantage to 2-0 in the top of the fourth. Agnelli poked a one-out single to the gap in right-center to plate Corianna DeLisi from second.

The visitors tacked on three runs in the sixth frame, extending their lead to 5-0. Lauren Zambrano hooked a two-run single down the left field line to score Maria Francese and DeLisi. Katie Eckert followed with a two-out double to left-center to allow Zambrano to touch the dish.

Eastern Nazarene got on the board in the home half of the sixth, cutting the deficit to 5-1. Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) drew a lead-off walk to start the inning and advanced to third base on back-to-back sacrifice bunts by Kendra Brasil (Methuen, Mass.) and Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.). Moore drove in Cicolini with a single through the left side of the infield.

Western New England tallied three times in the seventh to widen the gap to 8-1. Francese and DeLisi each came around to score on a single to centerfield by Mickayla Keltos. Emily Mastropaolo picked up an RBI on a single to left as Keltos crossed the plate.  

Tovar pitched a complete game and posted three strikeouts in seven innings.

In game two, the Lions opened the scoring in the first inning. With runners on first and second with two away, Clinkscale drilled a three-run home run to centerfield to drive in Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) and Marino.

Clinkscale belted her second dinger of the contest to lead off the bottom of the fourth, a solo shot over the towering left field fence to increase the hosts' advantage to 4-0.

Western New England battled back in the sixth, pushing across three runs to slice the margin to 4-3. Kacey Dory tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly by DeLisi. Gabby Lavinio followed with a double to center to plate Samantha Mulhern and Avery Clark with one out.

The Lions buckled down and recorded the final two outs of the sixth to cling to a one-run edge.

The Golden Bears threatened in the top of the seventh, getting two runners aboard with two outs. Eastern Nazarene sealed the win as Brasil made a running catch in centerfield to retire the visitors.

Cicolini improved to 6-5 on the season in the pitcher's circle, tossing a complete game and notching seven strikeouts.

Eastern Nazarene donned special lime green jerseys for the program's annual awareness game Friday. The Lions' played to raise awareness for muscular dystrophy, inspired by their newest team member and Team IMPACT partner Karelle.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene hits the road for a conference doubleheader at league-leading Endicott April 12.