Softball Trades Victories at Simmons Wednesday

BOSTON, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at Simmons Wednesday evening. The Lions dropped a 3-2 decision before bouncing back to claim a 5-4 win in the nightcap.

The Lions progress to 10-7 on the season while the Sharks move to 7-10 overall with the results.

Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) led the team with three base knocks, two runs scored, and a pair of RBIs on the night. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) notched three hits, one RBI, and one run scored in the twinbill. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) posted two hits, one RBI, and crossed the dish once. Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) and Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) both finished with a pair of hits and one run scored.

In the series opener, Simmons walked off with a 3-2 victory over Eastern Nazarene.

The home side manufactured two runs in the third to grab a 2-0 lead. Ashley Lynch and Brianna Rastello both crossed the plate as Molly Hennessey tripled to center.

The visitors narrowed the deficit to 2-1 with a score in the fourth inning. Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) scorched a single to centerfield to drive in Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) from second base. 

The Lions leveled the contest at 2-2 with a run in the top of the fifth. Coix laced a double down the left field line to knock in Bow.

The Sharks chalked up the game-winning run with one out in the bottom of the seventh as Rastello scored on a double off the bat of Lauren Del Vecchio. 

Heidi Gomez pitched a complete game and recorded a pair of strikeouts. 

In game two, Eastern Nazarene staved off Simmons to earn a 5-4 victory.

The Lions seized an early 1-0 edge with a run in the top of the first. Clements singled up the middle to plate Coix from second.

Eastern Nazarene doubled its advantage with a score in the second inning, 2-0. Bow motored home as Tylan Onorato (Wiscassett, Maine) rolled a groundball to the right side of the infield.

The guests produced three runs in the third to widen the gap to 5-0. Bow raked a bases-loaded double to left to drive in Schaffer and Clements. Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) followed with an RBI groundout that scored Emily Gomez.

The Sharks got on the board with a run in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 5-1 as Rastello scampered home on a groundout by Hennessey.

Simmons scored once in the sixth to trim the margin to 5-2. Alexandra Moleski crossed the dish on a single down the right field line by Bridget Garach.

The hosts tallied two runs in the seventh inning to pull to within one, 5-4. Rastello scored on an error before Sam Curran drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Del Vecchio.

Schaffer tossed a complete game and struck out six batters to improve to 6-3 in the circle.