Softball Splits Home-Opening Twinbill with Simmons

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team halved a doubleheader against Simmons at Mitchell/McCoy Field Wednesday afternoon in the first home games of the spring. The Lions prevailed 4-3 in game one before falling to the Sharks 9-1 in the series finale.

GAME ONE
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 4, Simmons 3
Records: Lions (8-9) | Sharks (7-10)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Simmons sprang for two runs in the top of the first inning to seize a 2-0 lead.
• Eastern Nazarene produced four runs in the bottom of the second to claim a 4-2 advantage. Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) scampered home as Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) reached on an error. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) picked up her team-leading 25th and 26th RBIs with a single to centerfield to drive in Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) and Ashley Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.). Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) drew a bases-loaded walk to knock in Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.).
• The visitors pulled to within one, 4-3, with a run in the sixth.
  
  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) posted two hits, a pair of RBIs, and one stolen base.
• Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) finished with two base knocks and one run scored.
• Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) tallied one hit and one RBI while Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) added one base hit and one run scored.
• In the pitcher's circle, Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) spun her sixth complete game of the year and recorded four strikeouts.

GAME TWO
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 1, Simmons 9
Records: Lions (8-10) | Sharks (8-10)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Simmons generated three runs in the top of the first inning to establish a 3-0 lead.
• The Sharks tacked on two runs in the third to widen the gap to 5-0.
• The visitors stretched their advantage to 9-0 with four runs in the fifth inning.
• Eastern Nazarene got on the board in the home half of the fifth, chalking up one run. Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) roped a two-out double down the right field line to drive in Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) from second base.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) notched one hit and one RBI.
• Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) chipped in with one base knock while Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) scored one run.
• Morgan Bruner (Litchfield, N.H.) tossed 4.1 innings and fanned one batter before Caoimhe Wernsing (Brockton, Mass.) worked two-thirds of an inning in relief.

UP NEXT:

Eastern Nazarene resumes New England Collegiate Conference play April 1 with a two-game set at Mitchell.