Softball Edged by Saint Mary’s, Defeats Wheaton at PFX Spring Games

CLERMONT, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team fell to Saint Mary's 8-6 and rebounded with a 5-3 win over Wheaton Saturday at the PFX Spring Games.

With the results, the Lions move to 2-2 on the season while the Cardinals improve to 6-4 overall and the Thunder falls to 0-2.

Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.) collected a team-high four hits on the day and scored one run. Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) and Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) both notched three base hits, a pair of runs scored, and one RBI. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) chipped in with three hits, one RBI, and one run.

In the afternoon contest, Eastern Nazarene dropped a narrow 8-6 decision to Saint Mary's despite holding a 10-9 edge in hits.

The Cardinals snagged a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Haley Williams tagged up and scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Allie Borawski before Kali Aldrich crossed the dish on an error.

Saint Mary's added a run in the third to extend its lead to 3-0 as Haley Vanourney singled to left to drive in Tara Nikolich.

Eastern Nazarene manufactured five runs in the top of the fourth frame to capture a 5-3 advantage. Weidler clobbered a leadoff home run to get the Lions on the board. Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) scampered home as Haley Viscovich (Modesto, Calif.) reached on an error. Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.) followed with an RBI base knock to left and Santos roped a double to center to plate Viscovich and Huerta.

The Cardinals responded with five scores in the home half of the inning to reclaim the lead, 8-5. Brittney Birkhauser landed a single in left field to drive in Jordan Meyers. Aldrich knocked in Nikolich and Birkhauser with a single to right. Chow and Aldrich both crossed the plate as Vanourney reached base on an error.

The Lions plated one run in the seventh to cut the deficit to 8-6 as Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) laced a two-out single to left to score Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) from second base.

Weidler started in the pitcher's circle and tossed 3.2 innings with one strikeout. Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) hurled 2.1 innings of relief and recorded a pair of strikeouts.

Eastern Nazarene downed Wheaton 5-3 under the lights in the third meeting between the teams and the first encounter since 2004.

The Thunder bolted out to a 2-0 edge with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Megan Neuhaus singled to left to score Hannah Clark before Neuhaus crossed the dish on a double by Kelly Thornton.

The Lions answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame to jump ahead 4-2. Santos scurried home as Clements reached on a fielder's choice. Weidler scored as Coix reached on an error in the outfield. Emily Gomez plated Clements with a base knock to center before Bow scored on a fielder's choice as Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) got on base.

Wheaton trimmed the deficit to 4-3 with a run in the second. Sophie Kent motored home on an infield single off the bat of Thornton.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up a score in the fifth to extend its lead to 5-3. Bow belted her second career home run over the left field fence.

Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) tossed one inning in her second start of the spring and fanned one batter. Schaffer threw six innings in her second relief outing of the day, posting nine strikeouts to earn her first win of the season.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene resumes play March 5 against Mount Union and Wheelock.