Softball Sweeps Mitchell, Locks Up Top Seed in NECC Tournament

NEW LONDON, Conn.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team blanked Mitchell twice in the final regular-season contests Saturday afternoon, eking out a 1-0 win before claiming a 3-0 victory.

The Lions conclude the regular season with a 20-20 overall record and an 8-4 mark in the New England Collegiate Conference with the wins. The Mariners sink to 17-19 on the season and 4-6 in league competition with the two setbacks.

Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) racked up three hits, one RBI, one run scored, and one stolen base. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) posted two hits and scored one run. Ashley Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) chipped in with two RBIs and one base hit.

In the opening tilt, Eastern Nazarene edged Mitchell 1-0.

The Lions broke the scoreless stalemate in the top of the seventh inning, manufacturing the game's lone run. Castro scorched a two-out double to drive in Adams.

Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) fired a complete-game shutout in the pitcher's circle and fanned five batters.

In the final game of the regular-season slate, Eastern Nazarene triumphed 3-0.

The visitors generated all three of their runs in the fifth inning. Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) raked a single up the middle to plate Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii). Caldwell followed with a base knock to left-centerfield to score Castro and Giddings.

Munoz spun her second complete-game shutout of the day and finished with four strikeouts while scattering two hits.

Looking ahead, top-seeded Eastern Nazarene will host the NECC Tournament May 6-8.