Softball Collects Two Wins at Salem State Thursday

SALEM, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team posted a pair of non-league victories at Salem State Thursday, prevailing 6-2 and 1-0.

The Lions rise to 4-0 on the season with the wins while the Vikings drop to 0-2 overall.

Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) notched three hits and scored a run while Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) landed three base knocks. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) finished with two hits, one RBI, and one run scored on the day. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) and Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) each chipped in with one hit, one RBI, and a run scored in the series.

In game one of the doubleheader, Eastern Nazarene racked up 11 hits to earn a 6-2 win.

The visitors got on the board early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Castro slapped a double to left field to drive in Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) from second base. Brandt followed with a sacrifice fly to knock in Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) from third before Munoz laced a two-out single to plate Castro.

The home side answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit to 3-2. Dominique Del Vecchio singled to score Gracie Hogan and Sydney Chiasson.

The Lions produced two runs in the third to push their lead to 5-2 as Adriana Montuya (American Canyon, Calif.) roped a base hit to drive in Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) and Munoz.

Eastern Nazarene tacked on a run in the seventh inning to widen the gap to 6-2. Brandt scampered home from third as Bowden reached on an RBI fielder's choice.

In the pitcher's circle, Munoz threw her second complete game of the season and finished with five strikeouts while allowing zero earned runs.

Eastern Nazarene capped off the sweep with a narrow 1-0 victory in game two.               

The guests chalked up the contest's lone run in the top of the second inning. Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Conn.) recorded her first collegiate RBI, reaching on a fielder's choice that knocked in Giddings.

Montuya spun her second complete game shutout of the spring and fanned five batters.     

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene will open NECC play April 2 on the road at Becker.