Softball Suffers Two Setbacks at Salve Regina

NEWPORT, R.I.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team dropped a pair of crucial contests at Salve Regina Friday afternoon, falling 3-2 and 11-4.

The Lions move to 17-7 on the season and 8-2 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the results. The Seahawks improve to 11-11 overall and 8-2 in league action.

Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) racked up four hits, three RBIs, and one run scored on the day. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) finished with three base knocks and one RBI. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) posted a pair of hits, one RBI, and one run scored.

In game one, the home side rallied to hand Eastern Nazarene its first conference loss of the season 3-2.

The visitors broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning, plating a pair of runs to claim a 2-0 lead. Weidler collected her team-leading 23rd RBI of the season with two-out double to drive in Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.) from second base. Clements followed with a double to knock in Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.).

Salve Regina responded with three runs in the home half of the frame to seize a 3-2 edge. Courtney Nowicki scurried home as Lindsey Florent grounded out. Francesca Galeazzi doubled to drive in Lindsay DelGrego for the tying run. Elizabeth Lombardo landed a double to score Galeazzi with the go-ahead run.

Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) pitched a complete game and finished with 11 strikeouts in her ninth start of the spring.

In game two, Salve Regina scored 11 runs on 13 hits to prevail 11-4.

The Lions exploded for three runs in the top of the first inning to race out to a 3-0 advantage. Weidler scorched a double to plate Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.) and Santos. Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) slapped a one-out single to drive in Weidler from second.

The Seahawks battled back to knot the game at 3-3 with three runs in the third. Megan Guest scampered home from third on a passed ball before Amanda Riley doubled to knock in Galeazzi and Florent.

Salve Regina produced seven runs in the fifth inning to claim a 10-3 lead. DelGrego, Florent, Jaycee Garrigan, Galeazzi, Nowicki, and Riley all picked up RBIs for the Seahawks.

Eastern Nazarene scored one run in the top of the sixth to trim the deficit to 10-4. Santos laced a triple to plate Huerta all the way from first base.

The home team tacked on a run in the bottom of the frame to reclaim a seven-run advantage, 11-4, as Garrigan singled to right field to score Riley.

Weidler tossed 4.1 innings and posted two strikeouts. Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) worked 1.2 innings of relief and finished with one strikeout.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene remains on the road for a pair of conference games at Endicott April 14.