Softball Sweeps Newbury in NECC Twinbill

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team posted a pair of wins over Newbury Wednesday at Mitchell/McCoy Field, prevailing 11-0 and 9-1.

The Lions climb to 18-10 on the year and remains atop the league standings with a 9-1 mark. The Nighthawks fall to 8-17 overall and 5-3 in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC).

Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) and Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) both registered four hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored in the two-game set. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) notched four base hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) finished with four hits, two RBIs, and one run. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) recorded three base knocks, three RBIs, and a pair of run scored.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene blanked Newbury 11-0 in five innings.

The Lions chalked up four runs in the top of the first inning to establish a 4-0 advantage. Ozaki laced a single up the middle to drive in Coix from second base. Schaffer roped a single to left to plate Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) and Ozaki. Bow landed a single in center to knock in Clements.

Eastern Nazarene added a run in the second to widen the margin to 5-0. Clements raked a single up the middle to score Santos from third base.

The Lions tacked on three runs in the third to push their lead to 8-0. Coix flared a single to right field to drive in Bow. Ozaki scorched a double down the left field line to plate Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) and Coix.

Eastern Nazarene tallied one run in the fourth frame to extend its advantage to 9-0. Bow slapped a double to the gap in left-centerfield to score Rebecca Ashman (Havre de Grace, Md.).

The Lions scored twice in the fifth to stretch the gap to 11-0. Clements singled to center to knock in Ozaki before Tylan Onorato (Wiscassett, Maine) motored home from first base on a double off the bat of Schaffer.

In the pitcher's circle, Schaffer tossed a complete-game shutout and racked up eight strikeouts.

The Lions wrapped up the series with a 9-1 victory to extend their winning-streak to seven games.

Newbury snagged a 1-0 edge with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Caroline Mahoney singled to centerfield to knock in Averi Johnson.

Eastern Nazarene manufactured three runs in the fourth to claim a 3-1 advantage. Bow raked a double to centerfield to drive in Onorato. Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.) laced a double down the right field line to plate Hayner and Bow.

The Lions chalked up one run in the fourth to push their lead to 4-1. Clements doubled to left to score Ozaki from second.

Eastern Nazarene added a run in the sixth to widen the margin to 5-1. Ashman tagged up and scored from third base as Coix hoisted a sacrifice fly to center.

The Lions generated four runs in the seventh to extend their lead to 9-1. Ashman drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Clements. Hayner followed with a single to right to drive in Schaffer. Ashman scurried home on Coix's second sacrifice fly of the game.

Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) pitched 2.1 innings in her sixth start. Schaffer worked 4.2 innings in her second relief outing of the year and finished with 10 strikeouts.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene is slated to host Mitchell April 19.