Clements, Schaffer Power Softball to Two Wins at Elms

CHICOPEE, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team posted a pair of 8-0, five-inning victories at Elms Wednesday afternoon.

The Lions improve to 23-11 on the year and remain atop the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) with a 13-1 mark. The Blazers fall to 12-17-1 overall and 8-4 in league play.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) powered the offense with a pair of home runs en route to finishing the day with four hits, six RBIs, and three runs scored. Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) shined in the pitcher's circle with a pair of complete-game shutouts and 16 strikeouts in the twinbill.

Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) chipped in with three base knocks, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) added three hits, two RBIs, and one run while Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) notched two hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene returned to the win-column with an 8-0 victory in five innings.

The visitors erupted for four runs in the top of the third to grab a 4-0 lead. Coix scored from second base as Ozaki reached on an error. Clements belted her team-leading eighth homer of the spring to drive in Schaffer and Ozaki.

The Lions extended their advantage to 8-0 with four runs in the fourth. Ozaki raked an RBI single to knock in Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.). Clements clobbered her ninth home run of the season and second three-run shot of the game to plate Coix and Ozaki.

In her 20th start in the pitcher's circle, Schaffer spun a complete game and struck out 10 while allowing just one base hit in the opening tilt.

In the second game, Eastern Nazarene earned its 11th-consecutive conference victory with another five-inning 8-0 win.

The Lions snagged a 2-0 edge with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Bow blasted her first home run of the season to drive in Clements with two outs in the frame.

The guests generated six runs in the fifth to widen the margin to 8-0. Coix lashed a two-run single to score Rebecca Ashman (Havre de Grace, Md.) and Huerta. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) followed with a single to plate Coix before Ozaki landed an RBI single to knock in Santos. With two outs in the inning, Schaffer roped a double to drive in Tylan Onorato (Wiscassett, Maine) and Ozaki.

Schaffer tossed her 21st complete game of the year and finished with six strikeouts while scattering two hits.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene wraps up the regular-season April 26 against Becker.