Softball Falls Twice to League-Leading Western New England

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team dropped a doubleheader to Western New England Thursday afternoon at Mitchell/McCoy Field.

The Lions slip to 11-15 on the year and 5-5 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the setbacks. The Golden Bears improve to 15-11 overall and 9-1 in league competition with the results.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) finished with one hit and an RBI while Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) chipped in with a home run. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.), Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.), Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) and Payton Fry (Chandler, Ariz.) all landed one base knock on the day.

In game one, the Golden Bears outlasted the Lions in extra innings, 6-2.

Eastern Nazarene plated one run in the first inning to grab a 1-0 edge. Kaitlyn Jimenez (Meriden, Conn.) rounded third and scored from second base as Clements roped a single to right to drive in her team-leading 21st RBI.

Western New England tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth. Jenn Luba laced a two-out single up the middle to plate Corianna DeLisi.

The Lions reclaimed a one-run advantage in the home half of the frame, 2-1. Weidler clobbered a solo home run to straight-away centerfield for her fourth homer of the spring.

The Golden Bears pulled even in the top of the sixth as Allison Mishol lifted a sacrifice fly to center to drive in DeLisi.

The visitors manufactured four runs in the top of the eighth inning to seize a 6-2 lead. McKenzie Pezze and Mishol all notched RBI singles before Gabby Lavinio landed a two-run single.

Weidler pitched eight innings to register her seventh complete game of the season while striking out six.

In the nightcap, Western New England racked up eight hits to secure a 5-0 victory.

The Golden Bears produced four runs in the fifth to establish a 4-0 lead. Lindsay Williams poked a single to right field to drive in Alexis Bukowski and Lavinio followed with a three-run home run to right-centerfield.

The guests tacked on a run in the sixth to widen the gap to 5-0. Mishol laced a double down the left field line to plate Jenn Luba all the way from first base.

Heidi Gomez recorded three strikeouts in six innings of action as she toed the rubber for the 19th time on the season.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will hit the road for a Commonwealth Coast Conference twinbill at Endicott April 15.