Softball Powers Past Penn State-Abington, Edged by Misericordia

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team collected its first win of the season with a 6-3 victory over Penn State-Abington before dropping a 12-9 decision to Misericordia Monday afternoon.

ENC VS. PENN STATE-ABINGTON
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 6, Penn State-Abington 3
Records: Lions (1-2) | Nittany Lions (1-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Penn State-Abington chalked up two runs in the bottom of the first inning to construct an early 2-0 lead.
• The Nittany Lions tacked on a run in the second to widen the margin to 3-0.
• Eastern Nazarene produced four runs in the third inning to claim a 4-3 edge. Leah Saunders (Smithfield, R.I.) scampered home from third base on a passed ball. Abby Stansbury (Warren, Ore.) slapped a single back up the middle to drive in Caoimhe Wernsing (Brockton, Mass.) and Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.). Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) followed with a double to left-centerfield to score Abby Stansbury (Warren, Ore.).
• The Lions added two runs in the fourth frame to extend their advantage to 6-3. Izabel Pozar (Flagstaff, Ariz.) raked a single to centerfield to knock in Leah Saunders (Smithfield, R.I.) before scoring on a base knock by Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Abby Stansbury (Warren, Ore.) notched two hits, two RBIs, and one run scored.
• Leah Saunders (Smithfield, R.I.) collected a pair of base knocks, scored twice, and stole two bases.
• Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) added two hits, one RBI, and a run scored.
• Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) posted two hits and one RBI while Izabel Pozar (Flagstaff, Ariz.) chipped in with one base knock, one RBI, one run scored, and a stolen base.
• Faith Bonar (Omaha, Neb.) pitched 5.2 innings in her first career start while recording two strikeouts. Cayley McCurdy (Smithfield, R.I.) picked up her first collegiate save, working 1.1 innings in her second relief appearance of the spring while fanning one batter.

ENC VS. MISERICORDIA
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 9, Misericordia 12
Records: Lions (1-3) | Cougars (4-2)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Misericordia sprang for three runs in the top of the first inning to capture a 3-0 advantage.
• The Cougars manufactured five runs in the second frame to push their lead to 8-0.
• Misericorida added one run in the third to extend the margin to 9-0.
• Eastern Nazarene got on the board in the fourth inning, plating a pair of runs to narrow the deficit to 9-2.
• The Lions scored twice in the home half of the fifth to cut the deficit to 9-4.
• The Cougars chalked up a run in the top of the sixth to stretch their advantage to 10-4.
• Eastern Nazarene generated three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to trim the gap to 10-7.
• Misercordia posted two runs in the seventh to claim a 12-7 lead.
• The Lions produced a pair of runs in the bottom of the final frame to shrink the margin to 12-9.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) registered two hits, two RBIs, and one run scored.
• Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) finished with two base knocks, two runs scored, and an RBI.
• Cayley McCurdy (Smithfield, R.I.) tallied two RBIs, one hit, and one run scored.
• Cayley McCurdy (Smithfield, R.I.) threw six innings in her first start of the spring and Abby Stansbury (Warren, Ore.) tossed one frame of relief.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Eastern Nazarene squares off against Cairn and Penn College March 5.