Softball Drops Two-Game Set to UMaine-Farmington

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team endured two non-conference losses to the University of Maine-Farmington in the 2013 home-opener at Mitchell/McCoy Field, falling 5-4 and 6-4. The Lions progress to 4-12 on the year while the Beavers start the season with a 2-0 overall record.

Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) recorded a team-high four hits on the afternoon while adding a pair of runs scored. Kori Sorensen (Quincy, Mass.) collected three hits in the doubleheader and drove in two RBIs. Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.), Britny Costa (New Bedford, Mass.) and Sterling Marino (North Kingstown, R.I.) all picked up two base knocks on the day for the Lions.

Farmington got on the board early in the opening contest, tallying a pair of runs in the first inning. Lily Barry drove in Michelle Cote from third with a sacrifice fly to left to give the visitors a 1-0 edge. Amy Jones doubled the Beavers' advantage to 2-0 as she scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the frame.

The hosts cut the deficit in half, 2-1, with a score in the bottom of the first. Losano laced a lead-off single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cicolini. After taking third on a groundout by Costa, Losano scampered home on a wild pitch.

The Lions claimed a one-run edge in the third, going ahead 3-2. Eastern Nazarene loaded the bases with one out and Marino drew a walk to even the game at 2-2. Cicolini scored the go-ahead run for the home team, jogging home as Abigail Moore (Sheridan, Calif.) was hit by a pitch.

Farmington scored three times in the fifth to restore its lead to 5-3. Hannah Lust lifted a sacrifice fly to left to plate Devan Fitzgerald from third to even the game at 3-3. Barry's two-run single down the left field line drove in Jones and Emily Soule.

Jamie Block (Pembroke, Mass.) hurled a complete game for the Lions and fanned two batters in her fourth appearance.

The Beavers captured a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Haley Berry scored from third on an RBI double by Shelby Bryant down the left field line to open the scoring. Bryant motored home from second base on an infield single by Dayle Jordan.

Eastern Nazarene got a run back in the home half of the second as Sorensen laced a single back up the middle to drive in Marino to pull the hosts to within one, 2-1.

Farmington added a run in the fourth to increase the margin to 3-1 as Bryant crossed home plate on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning.

The Lions knotted the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Marino raked a single down the left field line to lead off the frame and came around to score from first as Moore reached on a throwing error and moved up to third. Krystal Holl (Hagerstown, Md.) trotted home as Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.) grounded out with one away to level the contest.

In the top of the fifth, the Beavers reclaimed the lead on a three-run home run by Meryl Bond, 6-3.

Eastern Nazarene narrowed the gap to 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Sorensen landed a single in left field to plate Costa from third.

Cicolini struck out 10 batters in game two for the home side as she pitched her third complete game of the spring.

Up next, the Lions resume conference play as they visit Curry March 30 for a CCC doubleheader.