Softball Sweeps Series at Lasell, 10-7 & 6-4

NEWTON, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team triumphed 10-7 and 6-4 at Lasell in a non-conference twinbill Thursday.

The Lions improve to 14-11 on the year with the victories while the Lasers slide to 4-18 overall.

Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) recorded five hits, three RBIs, and scored three runs on the afternoon. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) finished with three hits and one run scored in the doubleheader. Tylan Onorato (Wiscassett, Maine) drove in four RBIs, landed two base knocks, and crossed the dish three times. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) notched a pair of hits and four runs scored while Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) added two base knocks, two RBIs, and one run.

In the series opener, Eastern Nazarene prevailed 10-7 in an extra-inning contest.

The Lions sprung for a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to claim an early 2-0 edge. Coix crossed the dish as Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) grounded out before Bow roped double to left to drive in Clements.

Lasell cut the deficit in half with a run in the second, 2-1. Ashley Gatchell singled to centerfield to plate Nichole Arcese from third base.

The Lasers erupted for five runs in the third to capture a 6-2 advantage. Arcese notched a pair of RBIs while Mackenzie Madden, Esther Plouffe, and Gatchell all collected an RBI in the frame for the hosts.

The visitors scored twice in the fifth to pull to within two, 6-4. Coix scored her second run of the day on a single off the bat of Emily Gomez. Bow hoisted a sacrifice fly to center to allow Emily Gomez to tag up and scurry home from third.

Eastern Nazarene leveled the game at 6-6 with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Kelly Donahue (Quincy, Mass.) registered her first career RBI as she laced a single to left to plate Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.). Emily Gomez drove in her second RBI of the contest with a base knock to score Onorato.

The Lions regained the lead in the top of the eighth with four runs, 10-6. Onorato raked a double to left to drive in Heidi Gomez from second base. Emily Gomez tripled to right to knock in Onorato and Coix before crossing the dish on a wild pitch.

Lasell manufactured one run in the home half of the eighth to trim the gap to 10-7 as Bailey Burnett scored on an error.

Heidi Gomez pitched 2.1 innings and posted one strikeout in her 11th start of the year. Schaffer tossed 5.2 innings of relief and finished with five strikeouts in her team-leading 16th pitching appearance of the spring.

In game two, the Lions edged the Lasers 6-4 to complete the doubleheader-sweep.

Eastern Nazarene produced five runs in the top of the third inning to establish a 5-0 lead. Bow drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Coix and get the guests on the board. Onorato poked a bases-clearing triple to right to plate Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.), Schaffer, and Bow. Onorato crossed the dish as Rachel Caswell (Utica, N.Y.) reached on an error.

Lasell answered with three scores in the home half of the third to narrow the gap to 5-3. Laura MacLeod singled to center to knock in Victoria Spellman before Plouffe drove in Erin Smith and MacLeod with a double to left field.

The Lasers trimmed the margin to 5-4 with a run in the fifth. Siobhan Yaple crossed the plate as Gatchell sent a single back up the middle.

The Lions responded with a score in the top of the sixth to reclaim a two-run advantage, 6-4. Schaffer landed an RBI single in left to drive in Emily Gomez from second base.

Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) threw 2.1 innings in her second start of the season and struck out one batter. Heidi Gomez pitched 4.2 innings of relief and racked up a pair of strikeouts.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene resumes league competition April 14 with a twinbill against Nichols at home.