Softball Falls to Adrian, Clips Penn State-Berks in Florida Finale

CLERMONT, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team wrapped up its trip to the Sunshine State with a 10-2 loss to Adrian followed by  a 4-2 victory over Penn State-Berks Thursday.

The Lions return to Massachusetts boasting an 8-4 overall record with Thursday's results.The Bulldogs improve to 4-4 on the season with the win while the Nittany Lions dip to 4-3 on the year.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) notched four base hits and four RBIs to lead the offense. Rebecca Ashman (Havre de Grace, Md.) posted four hits and crossed the dish one on the day. Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) and Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) both finished with a pair of base knocks and one run scored.

In the opening contest of the day, Eastern Nazarene dropped a 10-2 decision to Adrian.

The Bulldogs snagged a 1-0 edge with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Katie Connolly rolled a single up the middle to plate Jamie Bell.

The Lions leveled the game at 1-1 with a run in the top of the second. Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) scampered home as Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) was thrown out attempting to steal second base.

Adrian reclaimed the lead with four runs in the home half of the second, 5-1. Krista Lynch launched a grand slam to score Sam Jankowiak, Alaina Macksoud, and Bell.

Eastern Nazarene cut the deficit to 5-2 with one score in the third inning. Clements roped a double to right to drive in Ozaki all the way from first base.

The Bulldogs widened the gap to 8-2 with three runs in the bottom of the third. Infinity Rogers, Madison Budde, and Macksoud all crossed the dish in the frame.

Adrian clinched the victory with a pair of runs in the fifth. Paige Cubberly and Connolly landed back-to-back RBI singles to score Bell and Jankowiak.

In the pitcher's circle, Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) tossed two innings in her fifth start of the spring before Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) worked 2.2 innings of relief.

In their final game in Florida, the Lions topped Penn State-Berks 4-2.

Eastern Nazarene grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Clements laced a double to center to collect her team-leading 12th RBI of the spring as Coix scored from second.

The Lions chalked up a run in the fourth to double their advantage to 2-0. Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) crushed her team-best third home run of the season to lead off the frame.

Eastern Nazarene added a pair of runs in the fifth to pad its lead to 4-0. Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.) and Ashman both scored as Clements raked her second base hit of the contest.

The Nittany Lions got on the board in the top of the sixth to pull to within two, 4-2. Mackie Caffrey doubled to left to drive in Cori Dickinson before Heather Rissell plated Becca Faust with a two-out single.

Schaffer logged her sixth complete game in the pitcher's circle and finished with eight strikeouts.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene returns to the Bay State and resumes action March 20 with a pair of games against Brandeis in the home-opener.