Softball Sweeps Brandeis to Set New Single-Season Win Record; Bishop Becomes Winningest-Coach in Program History

WALTHAM, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team earned a pair of victories at Brandeis Tuesday, triumphing 4-1 and 4-3 to post the program's first-ever 20-win season. The victories also elevated third-year head coach Dani Bishop to 55 career wins, making her the all-time winningest coach in program history.

The Lions improve to 20-8 on the year with the decisions while the Judges dip to 6-14 overall.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) finished with four hits, four RBIs, and a pair of runs scored. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) landed two base knocks, drove in two RBIs, and scored twice on the day. Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.) and Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) each chipped in with two hits and one run.

In game one, the visitors triumphed 4-1 after both squads collected six hits.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to grab a 2-0 advantage. Clements crushed her team-leading sixth homer of the season to score Weidler.

The Lions added a run in the third to extend their lead to 3-0. Clements notched her third RBI of the contest as she roped a single to center to drive in Santos.

The guests tacked on a run in the fifth to widen the gap to 4-0. Santos launched her second home run of the year to lead off the frame.

Brandeis got on the board in the home half of the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 4-1. PJ Ross hit a double down the left field line to plate Keri Lehtonen from second base.

Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) threw a complete game and racked up 10 strikeouts in her 12th start of the season.

In the series finale, Eastern Nazarene eked out a 4-3 victory.

The Lions snagged an early 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first. Garrick motored home as Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) reached base on an error.

Eastern Nazarene generated three run in the fourth to stretch the margin to 4-0. Clements started the inning with a leadoff home run, her second blast of the day. With runners on the corners, Haley Viscovich (Modesto, Calif.) poked a base knock to right to drive in Bow from third base.  Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) tagged up and crossed the dish on a sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Santos.

The Judges trimmed the deficit to 4-2 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Scottie Todd and Brianna Urena each registered RBI base hits in the frame for the hosts.

Brandeis pulled to within one in the fifth, scoring one run. Marissa DeLaurents singled to right to plate Lehtonen from third.

In her eighth start of the season, Heidi Gomez pitched a complete game and fanned three batters.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene returns home to battle Western New England in a key conference twinbill April 18.