Softball Reaches Third-Straight NECC Championship Series; Goes 1-1 on Day Two of NECC Tournament

REVERE, Mass.- The top-seeded Eastern Nazarene College softball team absorbed a 4-3 loss to No. 3 seed Lesley before rallying past No. 4 seed New England College 6-4 on day two of the New England Collegiate Conference Tournament.

The Lions move to 22-21 on the year with the results and advance to their third-consecutive NECC championship series. The Lynx improve to 17-15 overall to move onto the NECC championship series. The Pilgrims finish the 2022 season with a 13-20 overall record.

Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) finished with two base hits, three runs scored, and three RBIs. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) notched three hits, two RBIs, and one run scored. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) posted three base knocks, three runs scored, one RBI, and a stolen base. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) tallied two hits, three RBIs, one run scored, and one stolen base.

In the matinee tilt, Eastern Nazarene dropped a narrow 4-3 decision to Lesley.

The Lynx chalked up a run in the top of the third to grab a 1-0 edge. Mahlia Medina laced a double to right-centerfield to drive in Holly Swinamer.

The Lions answered with a run in the bottom of the third inning to level the contest at 1-1. Olaveson lifted a sacrifice fly to knock in Schwenger from third base.

Lesley produced a pair of runs in the fifth to capture a 3-1 advantage. Lindsey Jensen launched a solo homer before Tara Eldredge scampered home from third as Jordan Day swiped second base.

Eastern Nazarene responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth frame to even the score at 3-3. Brandt and Olaveson blasted back-to-back solo home runs.

The Lynx generated a run in the seventh inning to reclaim a one-run lead, 4-3. Day bounced a single back up the middle to plate Lindsey Jensen.

Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) fired a complete game in the pitcher's circle and fanned one batter.

Eastern Nazarene wrapped up the day with a walk-off 6-4 victory over New England College in an elimination game.

The Pilgrims scored a run in the top of the first inning to establish a 1-0 edge. Daelyn Ross scorched an infield single to drive in Emily Gagne.

The Lions battled back to tie the game at 1-1 with a run in the home half of the first. Schwenger belted a leadoff home run for her third of the season.

Eastern Nazarene registered a pair of runs in the second to claim a 3-1 lead. Brandt raked a single up the middle to knock in Ashley Mieses (Bronx, N.Y.) and Schwenger.

New England College notched one run in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-2. Monica Andrade slapped a pinch-hit single to left field to plate Taylor Maher.

The Pilgrims chalked up two runs in the fifth to seize a 4-3 advantage. Ross roped a base knock to left to score Jailen Dickens before Gagne tagged up and crossed the dish on a sacrifice fly by Destiny Cardona.

The Lions rebounded to score once in the bottom of the fifth inning to knot the game at 4-4. Olaveson crushed her team-leading seventh home run to start the frame.

Eastern Nazarene clinched the 6-4 victory with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. Adams clobbered a two-run home run to drive in Olaveson.

Munoz spun her eighth-straight complete game and recorded one strikeout.

Up next, top-seeded Eastern Nazarene faces No. 3 seed Lesley in the NECC championship series May 8.