Softball Suffers Two Setbacks at League-Leading Salve Regina Sunday

NEWPORT, R.I.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team endured a pair of losses at CCC-frontrunner Salve Regina Sunday evening, falling 6-0 and 12-5.

The Lions sink to 19-16 on the season and 5-11 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Seahawks improve to 20-11 overall and 14-2 in league play.

Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) posted three hits, one RBI, and one run scored in the series. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) notched a pair of RBis, one base hit, and one run scored. Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) chipped in with two base knocks, one RBI, and one run scored while Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.) landed two hits.

In game one, Salve Regina constructed a six-run second inning en route to collecting a 6-0 shutout-victory over Eastern Nazarene.

In the top of the second frame, the Seahawks got on the board with their first run of the game as Kristen Hickey drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Amanda Riley. Lindsey Florent followed with an infield single that scored Nikki Bukovsky. Francesca Galeazzi landed a base knock in centerfield to plate Lexi Soucie. Hickey motored home from third as Elizabeth Lombardo grounded out before Florent and Galeazzi both crossed the dish on a single to right by Emily Woznick.

Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) hurled her ninth complete game of the spring and finished with four strikeouts.

In the second contest of the doubleheader, Salve Regina prevailed 12-5 to complete the sweep.

The Seahawks tallied three runs in the top of the first to grab a 3-0 lead. Galeazzi scored on a groundout by Woznick before Soucie and Bukovsky both notched two-out RBI singles.

The Lions jumped ahead by two with five runs in the bottom of the second inning, 5-3. Bow roped a double to right to plate Heidi Gomez from second base. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) poked a single to right to knock in Bow from third. Weidler followed with a triple to right field to drive in Coix all the way from first base. Clements blasted her fifth home run of the season as she launched a two-run homer over the fence in right that brought in Weidler.

Salve Regina pulled even at 5-5 with a pair of scores in the third. Kara O'Riley and Woznick both scurried home on a single to left off the bat of Bukovsky.

The Seahawks reclaimed the lead in the fourth, 6-5, as Galeazzi dashed home on an error after she stole third base.

Salve Regina manufactured five runs in the sixth to widen the gap to 11-5. Hickey, Lombardo, Woznick, and O'Riley all drove in RBIs in the frame for the Seahawks.

The Seahawks tacked on a run in the seventh to stretch their advantage to 12-5. Lombardo rolled a base knock into right field to plate Galeazzi from second.

Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) pitched 5.1 innings and recorded five strikeouts in her 15th start of the year. Heidi Gomez worked 1.2 innings and struck out one in her fourth relief appearance on the season.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene caps off the regular season at Endicott April 24.