Softball Trades One-Run Wins at Mount Ida

NEWTON, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team halved a non-conference doubleheader at Mount Ida Tuesday afternoon. The Lions prevailed 1-0 in the opening game before dropping a 6-5 decision in extra innings in the finale.

Eastern Nazarene moves to 6-10 on the spring while Mount Ida progresses to 3-7 overall.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) paced the Lions with three hits and three RBIs on the day. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) crossed the plate three times and landed one base hit. Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) and Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) each recorded one base knock and one run scored in the doubleheader.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene knocked in the lone run of the contest in the top of the first inning. Coix crossed the dish as Emily Gomez reached on an error.

Heidi Gomez struck out nine batters as she hurled her eighth complete game of the season to earn her fourth win in the pitcher's circle. The sophomore surrendered just three hits and a pair of walks in seven innings of action.

In the second game of Tuesday's twinbill, Mount Ida got on the board in the bottom of the third with three runs to seize a 3-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Hayley Microulis laced a single to left to drive in Kailee Lutz from third. Michelle MacDonald scampered home on a wild pitch before Lucianna Medici tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jenni Jackson.

The Lions produced two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-2. With runners on the corners, Clements slapped a double down the left field line to plate Emily Gomez and Coix.

The Mustangs tacked on a run in the home half of the fourth to widen their advantage to 4-2. Microulis doubled to left to score Lutz from second base.

Eastern Nazarene evened the contest at 4-4 with two runs in the seventh. Heidi Gomez scored as Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) reached on an error and Becky Bahr (Brentwood, N.Y.) crossed the dish as Kaitlyn Jimenez (Meriden, Conn.) reached on a fielder's choice.

The Lions grabbed a 5-4 edge in the eighth. Coix dashed home from as Clements rolled a grounder to the right side of the infield.

Mount Ida answered with a run in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 5-5. Jackson scored the tying run after Victoria Russo pushed a sacrifice bunt down the third base line and reached base on an error.

The hosts plated the game-winning run on a walk-off single to centerfield off the bat of Medici to drive in Nicole Handzel from second.

Heidi Gomez racked up eight strikeouts as she tossed 8.1 innings in her ninth start of the season.

Eastern Nazarene returns to action April 1 as it squares off against Nichols in a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader.