Softball Salvages Doubleheader Split at Elms Saturday

CHICOPEE, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team traded wins in a twinbill at Elms Saturday afternoon. The Lions suffered a 9-1 setback in the opening game and bounced back to earn a 9-5 win in the series finale.

Eastern Nazarene moves to 5-9 on the season with the results while Elms progresses to 8-10 overall.

Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) led the Lions with four RBIs on the afternoon and three hits. Lauren Clements (Garrisson, Texas) registered three doubles, three runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) finished with two hits and two runs scored while Kaitlyn Jimenez (Meriden, Conn.) crossed the dish twice.

In game one, the guests got on the board in the top of the first to claim a 1-0 edge. Jimenez tagged up and scored from third base on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Clements.

The home team answered with four runs in the bottom of the first to jump ahead 4-1. Kacey Gifford laced a triple to center to drive in Catharine Wrang and Keyla Oliveras. Kierstan Skinner followed with a base knock to left to plate Gifford. Raeanna Tumel singled to drive in Skinner from third.

Elms tacked on a run in the second to widen the margin to 5-1 in the second inning. Oliveras scored for the second time in the game as Gifford reached on a fielder's choice.

The Blazers plated a pair in the third to extend their lead to 7-1. Tumel singled to plate Erin O'Donnell. Gifford picked up her fourth RBI of the contest as she drew a bases-loaded walk to score Tumel.

The hosts scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning to stretch the gap to 9-1. After O'Donnell poked a one-out single to right, Elizabeth Olszewski launched a two-run homer.

Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) pitched 2.1 innings in her first start of the spring before Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) tossed 1.2 innings of relief.

In the second game, Eastern Nazarene manufactured two runs in the top of the first for an early 2-0 lead. With two runners in scoring position, Weidler raked a single to drive in Clements and Emily Gomez.

Elms responded with two runs in the second inning to level the score at 2-2. Oliveras delivered a two-run single to plate Olszewski and Tessa Cote.

The Lions knocked in a pair of runs in the third to reclaim a two-run edge, 4-2. Clements and Weidler each notched run-scoring base hits with two outs in the inning.

The Blazers cut the deficit in half, 4-3, with a run in the home half of the third, 4-3. Gifford crossed the dish as Madison Messier landed a single in centerfield.

The visitors exploded for four runs in the fourth to widen the margin to 8-3. Tylan Onorato (Wiscassett, Maine) and Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) each recorded RBI singles before Jimenez scampered home as Emily Gomez reached base on an error. Weidler drove in her fourth RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to center to score Coix.

The home team tallied two runs in the bottom of the frame to narrow the gap to 8-5. Gifford singled to center to knock in Oliveras and Tea Sullivan.

Eastern Nazarene added a run in the seventh to stretch its advantage to four, 9-5. Becky Bahr (Brentwood, N.Y.) hoisted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Clements.

Heidi Gomez threw her seventh complete game of the season and struck out four batters in seven innings of action to improve lock up her third win.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene will visit Mount Ida in non-conference action March 29.