Top-Seeded Softball Advances in NECC Tournament with 8-1 Win Over New England College
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New England Col.
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
|
Eastern Nazarene
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | X | 8 | 13 | 1 |
QUINCY, Mass.- The top-seeded Eastern Nazarene College softball team posted an 8-1 victory over No. 4 seed New England College in the opening contest of the New England Collegiate Conference Tournament Friday at Mitchell/McCoy Field.
The Lions elevate to 21-20 on the season with the victory and advance to the winners' bracket of the NECC Tournament. The Pilgrims move to 12-19 overall with the result and faced Mitchell in an elimination game later in the day.
Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) notched a pair of hits, one RBI, and two runs scored. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) finished with two base knocks and two runs scored. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) collected two hits and one RBI. Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) chipped in with two hits and one runs scored while Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) contributed with one hit and a pair of RBIs.
New England College chalked up a run in the top of the first inning to snag a 1-0 lead. Destiny Cardona flared a single down the right field line to score Emily Gagne from second base.
Eastern Nazarene produced three runs in the bottom of the fourth to claim a 3-1 advantage. Schwenger landed a two-out double in right field to drive in Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) and Giddings. Brandt followed with a base knock to plate Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Conn.).
The Lions tacked on three runs in the fifth to widen the margin to 6-1. Olaveson motored home from first base as Adams laced a single to left centerfield. Castro raked a single back up the middle to score Adams from third. Ashley Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) slapped a base hit to right centerfield to knock in Castro.
Eastern Nazarene added a pair of runs in the sixth to stretch the gap to 8-1. Adams scorched a double down the left field line to drive in Olaveson. Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) laced a double to left centerfield to plate Adams from second.
Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) spun her 25th complete game of the spring and registered one strikeout.
Up next, Eastern Nazarene will face Lesley May 7 with a spot in the NECC Championship series on the line.