Softball Splits Doubleheader at Becker to Start NECC Slate

LEICESTER, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team halved a twinbill at Becker Friday afternoon to open conference play. The Lions prevailed 8-7 before dropping a 12-3 decision in five innings.

The Lions progress to 5-1 on the season and 1-1 in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) with the results. The Hawks move to 5-5 overall and 1-1 in league action with the outcomes.

Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) posted three hits, three runs scored, and two RBIs on the day. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) finished with three base knocks, two stolen bases, one RBI, and one run scored. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) notched two hits and scored three runs while Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) collected two hits and drove in two RBIs.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene eked out an 8-7 victory to claim its fifth-straight win.

The visitors snagged a 1-0 edge with a run in the top of the first inning. Adams launched her team-leading second home run of the season.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up two runs in the third to widen the gap to 3-0. Olaveson roped a single to left field to drive in Castro from third. After a walk to load to bases, Adriana Montuya (American Canyon, Calif.) landed a base knock to score Brandt.

The Lions produced a pair of runs in the fourth to push their advantage to 5-0. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) scampered home as Castro reached on a fielder's choice before a fielding error allowed Adams to cross the dish.

The home side exploded four seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to seize a 7-5 lead. Emma Perry darted home on a wild pitch and Ashley Veillette followed with a two-run homer to knock in Elizabeth Simonian. Holly Letourneau laced a single to center to drive in Sarah Ellis. Emily Iacovelli belted a three-run blast to score Jillana Stevens and Letourneau.

The guests responded with two runs in the sixth to level the contest at 7-7. Adams raked a double to left to plate Schwenger before scoring later in the frame.

Eastern Nazarene regained a one-run edge with a run in the top of the seventh frame, 8-7, as Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) clobbered a lead-off home run for her first collegiate homer.

Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) pitched 4.1 innings in her third start of the spring and racked up eight strikeouts. Montuya tossed 2.2 innings and recorded three strikeouts in her first relief outing and third pitching appearance of the season.

In the nightcap, Eastern Nazarene suffered its first loss of the season as it fell to Becker 12-3 in five innings.

The Lions jumped out to a 1-0 lead with one run in the top of the first. Brandt lasered a double to left-centerfield to drive in Castro all the way from first base.

The Hawks answered with three runs in the home half of the first to capture a 3-1 edge as Letourneau, Iacovelli, and Stevens picked up back-to-back-to-back RBI hits.

The hosts tacked on five runs in the third to stretch their lead to 8-1.

The visitors trimmed the deficit to 8-2 with a run in the fourth inning. Alyssa Shearing (Schenectady, N.Y.) slapped an infield single to plate Keira Niestas (Oceanside, Calif.) from third.

Becker generated four runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend its advantage to 12-2.

Eastern Nazarene tallied a run to narrow the margin to 12-3. Castro tagged up and scurried home as Olaveson lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.

In her collegiate pitching debut, Niestas threw three innings and recorded one strikeout. Montuya pitched one inning in her second relief appearance of the day and finished with three strikeouts.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will host Becker April 3 in the first home contests of the spring.