Softball Drops Two Narrow Decisions at Western New England

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team absorbed a pair of losses at CCC preseason-favorite Western New England Thursday afternoon, falling 2-0 in game one before suffering a 4-3 extra-inning setback in the finale.

The Lions move to 8-5 on the season and 0-2 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the results. The Golden Bears improve to 10-2 overal and 2-0 in league action with the wins.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) finished with three hits, two runs scored, and two RBIs in the doubleheader. Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) landed three base knocks and scored one run on the day. Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) posted a pair of hits and drove in one RBI in the twinbill.

In game one, the home team eked out a 2-0 win after narrowly edging the visitors in the hits column 6-5.

Western New England plated one run in the bottom of the first inning to seize a 1-0 edge. Gabby Lavinio poked a single to right field to drive in Corianna DeLisi from third base.

The Golden Bears doubled their lead to 2-0 with a score in the second. Katie Wood singled to center to knock in Lindsay Williams with two outs.

Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) pitched a complete game and recorded six strikeouts in her eighth outing of the spring.

In game two, the hosts capped off the sweep with a 4-3 win in eight innings.

Western New England got on the board in the bottom of the first to grab a 1-0 advantage. Wood rolled a base hit up the middle to plate Lavinio from third.

Eastern Nazarene responded with a run in the top of the second inning to level the score at 1-1. Emily Gomez roped a double to right-center to drive in Clements.

The Golden Bears reclaimed a one-run lead in the third, 2-1, as DeLisi belted a solo home run to lead-off the bottom of the frame.

The hosts tacked on a run in the fourth to widen the gap to 3-1. Carlie Moss crossed the dish as DeLisi grounded out to the shortstop.

The Lions knotted the score at 3-3 in the top of the fifth as Clements launched her second homer of the season, a two-run shot that brought in Weidler.

Western New England tallied the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth as Samantha Emmert scurried home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Aimee Kistner.

Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) tossed a complete game and struck out eight batters in seven and a third innings.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene is slated to host the University of New England April 1.