Softball Stymied at Endicott, Drops CCC Twinbill Saturday

BEVERLY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep at Endicott Saturday afternoon, absorbing losses on 11-0 and 8-0.

The Lions sink to 7-17 overall with a 3-11 mark in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Gulls improve to 15-6 on the year and 7-1 in league play with the wins.

Senior Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) led the visitors with a pair of base hits and a stolen base on the afternoon. Kaitlyn Jimenez (Meriden, Conn.) chipped in with a hit and one stolen base. Kendra Brasil (Methuen, Mass.) and Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.) each collected one base knock in the two-game set.

The hosts tallied scored three times with two outs in the home half of the first inning to control a 3-0 lead. Sam DiBella and Kelley Michael landed back-to-back doubles as DiBella touched the dish for Endicott's first run of the day. Michael came around to score as Rachel Couto rolled a single up the middle. Emily Hoffman followed with an RBI base knock to center to drive in Couto.

Clinkscale registered Eastern Nazarene's first hit in the game in the top of the second, lacing a triple to center with one away but was stranded on third base.

Endicott padded its lead with an eight-run outburst in the bottom of the second. Chrissy Gikas scored as Jess Linden reached on an error. Linden came around to touch the plate on a single up the middle by Jesse Bilafer. Alex Moise plated Bilafer from second with an RBI single.

Hoffman extended the hosts' lead with a grand slam to drive in Couto, Michael and DiBella. Jaime Corda trotted home with the Gulls' final run of the game as Chanler Hospot grounded out.

Tovar pitched a complete game, logging four innings in the pitcher's circle in the opening contest.

In game two, the Gulls chalked up a run in the first frame to grab a 1-0 edge. Couto singled to left center to plate Moise from second base.

Endicott doubled its advantage to 2-0 with a run in the second inning. Sam Cila crossed the plate on a base knock by Gikas.

The home side plated four runs in the third to extend the margin to six runs, 6-0. Moise, Hoffman and Alli Noyes all picked up RBI hits in the inning for the home team.

The Gulls added a pair of scores in the bottom of the fifth to secure an 8-0 victory. Noyes and Hospot each landed RBI singles for Endicott.

Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) tossed four and a third innings in her 12th start of the spring and struck out one batter.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene travels north to take on the University of New England April 16.