Softball Sweeps Regis in First Twinbill of Spring Slate

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team swept Regis 3-0 and 5-4 in extra innings in the first doubleheader of the 2013 campaign on day one of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Lions kick off the season with a 2-0 overall record while the Pride dip to 0-2 on the year.

Junior Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) led Eastern Nazarene offensively with three hits and two RBIs. Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) chipped in with one RBI on three base knocks, including two doubles. Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.) registered two hits and one stolen base while Jamie Block (Pembroke, Mass.) picked up two hits and an RBI. Britny Costa (New Bedford, Mass.) drove in two runs on the day and Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) plated one with a base knock.

In game one, the Lions pushed a run across in each of the first three innings and Kori Sorensen (Quincy, Mass.) hurled a complete game shutout with five strikeouts and no walks while scattering four hits.

Tovar singled to lead off the game and Sorensen advanced her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Tovar motored home on a two-out double by Clinkscale to get the Lions on the board.

Costa came around to score after lacing a single up the middle to open the second inning. With Costa on first, Sterling Marino (North Kingstown, R.I.) dropped down a bunt and a throwing error allowed Costa to cross the plate.

In the third frame, Clinkscale raked her second double of the game with two outs in the inning and Losano followed with a single down the right field line to add Eastern Nazarene's third run.

In the second game of the afternoon, Regis claimed a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and no outs, Emily Pickett drove in Katie Cuozzo from third as she reached on a fielder's choice. Shannon Bradish came across to score on a groundout to first by Samantha Bliss with one out.

The Lions leveled the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. With runners on the corners and one away, Costa landed a single in right to drive in Block and Marino.

The Pride answered with two runs in the top of the eighth inning to go ahead 4-2. Alyssa McKinnon registered an RBI as she singled down the right field line to lead-off the inning. Haley Fountain followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to plate McKinnon.

Eastern Nazarene rallied in the bottom of the eighth to capture a walk-off win, scoring three times. Cicolini drove in Sorensen with one out in the frame to cut the deficit in half and Losano plated Cicolini to tie the score at 4-4. Block followed with the game-winning RBI on a single up the middle to score Clinkscale from second base.

In her first collegiate pitching appearance, Costa tossed a complete game to earn the victory. The rookie fanned five batters and walked one while allowing eight hits.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will face off against Wittenberg and Northland March 4 as it continues play at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.