Softball Splits Doubleheader at Gordon Thursday

WENHAM, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team earned a series split at Gordon Thursday afternoon, falling 17-3 before bouncing back to claim a 5-4 win.

GAME ONE
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 3, Gordon 17
Records: Lions (3-8) | Fighting Scots (4-9)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Gordon produced five runs in the top of the first inning to establish a 5-0 lead.
• The Fighting Scots chalked up nine runs in the second to extend their advantage to 14-0.
• Eastern Nazarene tallied three runs in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 14-3. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) laced a single up the middle to score Izabel Pozar (Flagstaff, Ariz.). Abby Stansbury (Warren, Ore.) roped a two-out double to drive in Leah Saunders (Smithfield, R.I.) and Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.).
• Gordon tacked on three runs in the fourth inning to stretch the margin to 17-3.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) notched two hits, one RBI, and a run scored.
• Abby Stansbury (Warren, Ore.) recorded two RBIs and one base knock.
• Leah Saunders (Smithfield, R.I.) added one hit and one run scored.
• Cayley McCurdy (Smithfield, R.I.) pitched 1.1 innings in her fourth start of the season. Faith Bonar (Omaha, Neb.) worked 3.1 innings and fanned three batters in her fourth relief appearance. Lizzie DeRusha (Nashua, N.H.) tossed one-third of an inning in her first collegiate pitching action.

GAME TWO
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 5, Gordon 4
Records: Lions (4-8) | Fighting Scots (4-10)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Gordon snagged an early 1-0 edge with a run in the top of the first inning.
• Eastern Nazarene exploded for four runs in the home half of the fourth to capture a 4-1 lead. Abby Stansbury (Warren, Ore.) and Cayley McCurdy (Smithfield, Mass.) raked back-to-back doubles as Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) and Stansbury both scored. Izabel Pozar (Flagstaff, Ariz.) poked a two-out single to right-centerfield to knock in Madison Murray (Lakeville, Mass.) and Cayley McCurdy (Smithfield, Mass.).
• The Fighting Scots manufactured two runs in the fifth to trim the deficit to 4-3.
• The Lions added a run in the sixth to widen the gap to 5-3 as Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Conn.) scampered home from third base on a wild pitch.
• Gordon picked up one run in the top of the seventh inning to narrow the margin to 5-4.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Abby Stansbury (Warren, Ore.) landed three hits to go with one RBI and one run scored.
• Izabel Pozar (Flagstaff, Ariz.) collected two base hits and a pair of RBIs.
• Cayley McCurdy (Smithfield, R.I.) registered two hits, one RBI, and a run scored.
• Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Conn.) chipped in with two base knocks and one run scored.
• In the pitcher's circle, Abby Stansbury (Warren, Ore.) spun her second complete game of the year and finished with two strikeouts.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Eastern Nazarene visits Simmons March 20.