Softball Drops Doubleheader at Brandeis

WALTHAM, Mass.- Returning to the diamond for the first time in two weeks, the Eastern Nazarene College softball team absorbed a pair of losses at Brandeis Thursday afternoon, falling 8-1 then 9-1 in six innings.

The Lions dip to 8-6 on the season with the results while the Judges improve to 6-0 overall

Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) posted two base hits and one RBI on the day. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) chipped in with a pair of hits and one run scored. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) notched one base knock and drove in an RBI. Rebecca Ashman (Havre de Grace, Md.) finished with one hit and one run scored.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene fell 8-1 as Brandeis earned its fifth-straight victory.

The visitors snagged a 1-0 edge with a run in the top of the first inning. Ozaki roped a single to right-centerfield to drive in Ashman from third base.

The home side responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to jump ahead 2-1. Kori Lehtonen scampered home from third on a groundout by Scottie Todd. Jolie Fujita scored the go-ahead run as Marley Felder reached on an error.

Brandeis tacked on a run in the second to widen the gap to 3-1. Lehtonen landed a two-out double to plate Bridget Cifuni.

The Judges tallied three runs in the fifth to stretch their advantage to 7-1. Todd started the frame with a solo shot before Melissa Rothenberg belted a two-run homer.

Brandeis scored once in the sixth to extend its lead to 8-1 as Todd singled to knock in Lehtonen.

Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) hurled her seventh complete game of the season in her seventh start and finished with seven strikeouts.

In the nightcap, Brandeis collected its sixth-straight win with a 9-1 decision in six innings.

The Lions claimed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Coix tagged up and dashed home as Clements hoisted a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Judges chalked up two runs in the home half of the fourth to capture a 2-1 edge. PJ Ross doubled to left field to drive in Marissa DeLaurentis. Sydney Goldman followed with a single to center to plate Ross from second base.

Brandeis added three runs in the fifth to widen the gap to 5-1. Fujita scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ashleigh Fultz. Golden followed with a two-run home run to plate Todd.

The home team clinched the 9-1 victory with four runs in the sixth. Fujita belted a lead-off home run before Fultz launched a two-run shot to score DeLaurentis. Renskers crossed the dish as Rothenberg laced a walk-off double.

Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) tossed three innings in her second start of the year in the pitcher's circle. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) worked 2.2 frames in her first relief outing of the spring.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene travels to the Ocean State March 22 to battle Roger Williams.