Softball Overpowers Bridgewater State, Wheelock

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team rattled off two victories Tuesday, downing Bridgewater State 6-1 and Wheelock 11-0.

The Lions escalate to 5-1 on the season with the two outcomes. The Bears drop to 3-3 overall and the Wildcats slide to 0-2 on the year.

Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) finished with a team-high four base hits, five RBIs, two runs scored, and one stolen base on the day. Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) registered three base knocks and crossed the dish four times. Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.) posted two hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) chipped in with two hits and scored four runs. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) and Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) each drove in three RBIs and landed one hit.

Against Bridgewater State, Eastern Nazarene recorded a season-best 10 base hits to get back into the win column.

Eastern Nazarene established an early 2-0 lead with a pair of scores in the bottom of the first frame. Schaffer scorched a single up the middle to plate Weidler and Garrick.

The Lions tallied three runs in the second inning to widen the gap to 5-0. Coix drove in Emily Gomez with a single to center. Clements laced a triple to left to knock in Weidler and Coix.

Eastern Nazarene added a run in the third to stretch the margin to 6-0. Garrick flared a two-out base knock to left to score Emily Gomez from second base.

The Bears got on the board in the seventh to cut the deficit to 6-1. Morgan Cox tagged up and dashed home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kristyna Flaherty.

Schaffer spun her third complete game of the spring and finished with six strikeouts.

In the nightcap, the Lions scattered seven hits and chalked up a dozen runs to log their fifth victory of the trip.

Eastern Nazarene manufactured three runs in the home half of the first inning to seize a 3-0 edge. Garrick trotted home as Clements drew a bases loaded walk before Coix scampered across the dish on a wild pitch. Weidler bolted home from third after a pick-off attempt at second base.

The Lions sprung for five runs in the second to extend their advantage to 8-0. Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) roped a single to center to drive in Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.). Emily Gomez tagged up from third and scored as Coix lifted a sacrifice fly to left. Stanley crossed the plate after Schaffer was issued a bases-loaded walk before Garrick and Weidler both scored on a wild pitch.

Eastern Nazarene tallied three runs in the third to push the lead to 11-0. Garrick singled to center to drive in Heidi Gomez and Coix slapped a base hit to left to plate Emily Gomez and Stanley.

The Lions added a run in the fourth to widen the gap to 12-0. Coix drove in her fourth RBI of the contest as she poked a single to left to score Heidi Gomez from third base.

Wheelock broke up the shutout bid with a run in the top of the fifth. Samantha Leahon landed an RBI single in centerfield to drive in Brianna Hochwarter.

Heidi Gomez started the game in the pitcher's circle and tossed four shutout innings while striking out five batters. Rachel Caswell (Utica, N.Y.) worked one inning of relief as she made her collegiate pitching debut.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene is back in action March 8 to take on Swarthmore and Geneva.