Softball Wraps Up Spring Break Trip with Losses to Wartburg & Wheaton

MINNEOLA, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team absorbed an 11-9 extra-inning loss to Wartburg and a 6-2 setback to Wheaton (Ill.) on its final day at the PFX Spring Games.

The Lions return to campus with a 7-5 overall record. The Knights improve to 4-3 on the year and the Thunder jumps to 2-6 on the season.

Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) landed a team-high four hits on the day while adding one run scored, one RBI, and a stolen base. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) notched three hits, three RBIs, and a pair of runs scored. Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) chipped in with three RBIs, three runs, and one base knock. Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) posted three hits and drove in a pair of RBIs.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene dropped a nine-inning affair to Wartburg 11-9.

The Knights erupted for six runs in the top of the first inning to build up a 6-0 lead. Liz Roby-Miklus, Erica Countryman, Sara Martin, Mara Forsyth, Sarah Grabowski, and Kailee O'Brien all crossed the dish in the inning.

The Lions responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit to 6-2. Weidler launched her team-leading fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot to score Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.).

Eastern Nazarene leveled the contest at 6-6 with four runs in the second. Garrick poked a single to right to drive in Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.). Santos scurried home as Weidler reached on an error before Clements roped a single to center to plate Garrick. Bow scorched a base hit to left to drive in Weidler for the tying run.

The Lions nabbed a one-run lead with a tally in the third inning, 7-6. Santos laced a double to left to score Huerta from second base.

Wartburg pulled even at 7-7 with a run in the fourth frame as Martin tripled to right field to plate Countryman.

The Knights scored once in the top of the fifth to regain a one-run edge, 8-7, as Leah Campos doubled to drive in O'Brien.

Eastern Nazarene clawed back to tie the game at 8-8 with a run in the sixth inning. Bow delivered a two-out double to score Clements from second.

Wartburg plated a run in the top of the eighth to grab a 9-8 advantage. Madison Rentschler crossed the dish as Roby Miklus reached first base on an error.

The Lions answered with an equalizer in the home half of the frame, 9-9. Huerta dashed home as Santos swiped second base.

The Knights chalked up two runs in the ninth to seize an 11-9 lead. Forsyth and O'Brien both landed RBI base hits in the inning.

Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) started in the pitcher's circle before Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) came on to throw nine innings of relief while racking up 10 strikeouts.

In the team's final game in Florida, Eastern Nazarene fell to Wheaton (Ill.) 6-2 as the two squads squared off for the second time this week.

The Lions tallied twice in the top of the first to snag a 2-0 advantage. Clements crushed a two-run home run to left to drive in Weidler, her second homer of the spring.

The Thunder knots the contest at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Megan Neuhaus scored on a single by Melody Rodriguez. Morgan Ryan plated Kelly Thornton from third with a sacrifice squeeze bunt.

Wheaton broke the deadlock with a four-run frame in the fifth, 6-2, as Ryan belted a grand slam to knock in Neuhaus, Thornton, and Rodriguez.

Weidler tossed five innings in her third start of the season and finished with two strikeouts. Heidi Gomez fanned two batters in one inning of relief.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene is slated to visit Elms March 17.