Softball to Host Nichols in CCC Tournament Play-In Game Saturday

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team grabbed the No. 6 seed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament and will battle seventh-seeded Nichols in a first round matchup Saturday, April 30 at Mitchell/McCoy Field at 4:00 pm.

The winner of the play-in game will advance to the double-elimination Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament beginning Monday, May 2.

The Lions sport a 15-23 overall record this spring and finished the regular season with a 7-11 mark in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Bison are 14-20 on the year and posted a 6-12 record in league action.

Eastern Nazarene returns to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament for the first time since 2013. The Lions last reached the double-elimination phase of the CCC Tournament in 2012.

Earlier this season, Eastern Nazarene and Nichols split a doubleheader with the Lions winning game one 13-9 before dropping game two 5-4.

Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) leads Eastern Nazarene with 42 base hits, including 10 doubles and seven home runs. Her seven homers ties the program's single-season record set by Amber Burns in 2009. Weidler has also registered 22 RBIs, 19 runs scored and 14 walks drawn this spring.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) has landed 41 hits this year, including 10 doubles, a triple and four home runs. She paces the squad with 29 RBIs while adding 19 runs scored and 11 walks. Kaitlyn Jimenez (Meriden, Conn.) has crossed the dish a team-high 31 times this season and has stolen four bases.

In the pitcher's circle, Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) has tossed 133.2 innings to lead the league and racked up 101 strikeouts. She has logged 14 complete games in 17 starts this year.

Weidler has pitched 106.2 innings and fanned 77 batters this spring while issuing just six walks. The rookie boasts a 9-7 record with 10 complete games and a 2.82 ERA.

Head coach Dani Bishop is in her first season at the helm of the program and has her team within one win of matching the most wins in program history.

To view the full bracket, click here.