Softball Knocks Off New England College, 1-0 & 5-0

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team posted a pair of shutout-victories over New England College under the lights at Mitchell/McCoy Field Saturday evening.

The Lions elevate to 14-10 on the season and 5-1 in the New England Collegiate Conference with the wins. The Pilgrims drop to 14-6 overall and 2-2 in league play with the results.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) racked up four hits on the day, including a pair of homers, while adding two RBIs and two runs scored. Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) notched one hit, two RBIs, and one run scored on the night. Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) landed a pair of base knocks and drove in one RBI. Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.) and Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) each chipped in with two hits.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene notched a 1-0 victory to halt New England College's 12-game winning-streak.

The hosts grabbed a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the sixth inning as Clements crushed her fifth home run of the season.

Schaffer spun a complete-game shutout to pick up her 10th win of the season, finishing with nine strikeouts.

In the series finale, Eastern Nazarene blanked New England College 5-0 to secure its fifth conference win.

The Lions seized an early 3-0 advantage with three runs on back-to-back jacks in the first inning. Schaffer launched her fifth homer of the spring to drive in Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) before Clements followed with a solo shot for her team-leading sixth of the year and second on the night.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up two runs in the fifth to widen the gap to 5-0. Bow scorched a single to plate Tylan Onorato (Wiscassett, Maine) before Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) tagged up and motored home from third on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Rebecca Ashman (Havre de Grace, Md.).

Schaffer hurled her 14th complete game and registered nine strikeouts.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene travels to Newbury for a midweek conference twinbill April 10.