Softball Overpowers Mitchell for Doubleheader Sweep

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team cruised to a pair of five-inning victories over Mitchell Saturday afternoon at Mitchell/McCoy Field, prevailing 12-1 and 10-0.

The Lions climb to 11-1 on the year and 5-1 in the New England Collegiate Conference with the wins. The Mariners sink to 2-7 overall and 0-2 in league play with the results.

Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) collected four hits, three runs scored, and one RBI. Adriana Montuya (American Canyon, Calif.) finished with four base hits, two runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) posted two base knocks, four RBIs, three runs scored, and two stolen bases. Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) registered three hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored on the day.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene notched its 10th win of the year with a 12-1 five-inning victory.

The home side produced five runs in the bottom of the first inning to establish a 5-0 advantage. Adams crushed her league-leading sixth home run of the season to drive in Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) and Hayner. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) tagged up and motored home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Montuya before Munoz crossed the dish on a wild pitch.

The Lions scored four runs in the second to widen the gap to 9-0. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to knock in Schwenger from third. Hayner scurried home as Olaveson reached on an error. After Adams scored on a wild pitch, Munoz laced a single to left field to plate Olaveson.

Eastern Nazarene added three runs in the third to push its lead to 12-0. Schwenger crossed the dish with her third run of the game on a double steal as Adams swiped second. Adams rounded third and scored as Olaveson reached on an outfield miscue. Munoz knocked in Brandt from third with an RBI groundout.

The visitors got on the board in the top of the fifth inning, tallying one run to cut the deficit to 12-1. Madison Nicynski hoisted a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Josette Madison from third base.

In the pitcher's circle, Munoz tossed her fourth complete game of the spring and finished with three strikeouts.

In the second contest of the twinbill, the Lions rolled to a 10-0 shutout win to capture their sixth-straight victory.

The hosts generated six runs in the bottom of the second to open up a 6-0 lead. Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) smacked a double high off the left field fence to drive in Olaveson. Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Conn.) followed with an RBI double to left to plate Montuya while Bowden crossed the dish on a throwing error. Schwenger laced a double to right-centerfield to score Maliszewski. Hayner roped an RBI single to left-center to knock in Schwenger from third base. Hayner trotted home as Brandt reached on a dropped fly ball in the outfield.

Eastern Nazarene manufactured three runs in the third to stretch the margin to 9-0. Munoz scored from third base on a sacrifice bunt by Bowden and Montuya crossed the dish as Maliszewski reached on an error. Adams picked up her team-leading 18th RBI of the spring as she elevated a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Maliszewski.

The Lions added a run in the fourth to increase their advantage to 10-0 as Maliszewski scorched a hard-hit single to third base to plate Munoz.

Munoz spun her second complete game of the day and fifth on the season to improve to 5-0 in the pitcher's circle. The rookie fanned four batters while scattering just two hits and one walk in her sixth start of the year.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene travels to the Nutmeg State April 11 to wrap up the weekend series at Mitchell.