Softball Downed by Bridgewater State, Drew
FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team dropped a 7-6 decision to Bridgewater State before suffering a 14-7 loss to Drew Monday afternoon at the CenturyLink Complex.
The Lions progress to 2-2 on the year with the results. The Bears improved to 2-1 overall and the Rangers jump to 2-2.
Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) collected three base hits, scored three runs and drove in a pair of RBIs on the day. Payton Fry (Chandler, Ariz.) finished with three RBIs, two base knocks and two runs scored on the afternoon. Kaitlyn Jimenez (Meriden, Conn.) registered two hits, crossed the plate three times, delivered an RBI and stolen a base.
In their first contest of the day, the Lions narrowly fell to Bridgewater State 7-6.
The Bears plated a pair of runs in the top of the third to take a 2-0 lead. Eastern Nazarene answered with a six-run outburst in the home half of the frame to capture a 6-2 advantage.
Bridgewater State scored twice in the fourth to cut the deficit to 6-4 before rallying in the top of the sixth to go ahead by one run, 7-6.
Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) spun a complete game and struck out five batters in her second start of the spring.
In their second game of the afternoon, a late rally propelled Drew to a 14-7 victory over the Lions.
Eastern Nazarene built up a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Fry and Emily Gomez both crossed the dish as Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) reached base on an error.
The Lions extended their advantage to 5-0 with three scores in the second inning. After Becky Bahr (Brentwood, N.Y.) laced a lead-off double to right-center, Jimenez roped a double to the gap in left-center to drive in Bahr from third with one out. Emily Gomez followed with a single up the middle to allow Jimenez to round third and score. Fry landed a double in left center to plate Emily Gomez from second base for team's third run of the frame.
Drew got on the board in the bottom of the second, cutting the deficit to 5-1. Danielle Martinez motored home on a double off the bat of Alexarae Rizzo.
The Rangers picked up a run in the third to pull to within three, 5-2. Heather Ronchi crossed the plate on a single up the middle by Lauren Mastropierro.
Eastern Nazarene tacked on a run in the fourth to widen the gap to 6-2. Emily Gomez knocked in her second RBI of the game with an infield single to score Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.).
Drew tallied twice in the fifth to narrow the margin to 6-4. Meghan McGuire scampered home on a wild pitch before Emma Agostini drove in Ronchi with a groundout.
The Lions responded with a run in the sixth inning to claim a three-run edge, 7-4. Fry recorded her third RBI of the contest as she grounded out, plating Jimenez from third base.
The Rangers notched 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth to seize a 14-7 edge. Martinez and Katie Grodski both scored on a single down the right field line by Brooke Adams. Ronchi equalized with an RBI single to drive in Adams. Mastropierro followed with a single into right field to push across the go-ahead run. Agostini, Sammie Booth, Adams and Phylicia Pellot all recorded RBI base knocks later in the inning for Drew.
Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) pitched 5.1 innings and fanned a pair in her second start of the year. Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) and Heidi Gomez each made relief appearances.
Up next, Eastern Nazarene returns to action Tuesday, March 8 with clashes against Dominican (Ill.) and Albion.