Softball Solidifies Playoff Spot with Sweep at Wentworth

BOSTON, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene softball team cruised to a pair of conference wins at Wentworth Monday afternoon, posting wins of 9-0 and 15-4 to secure a postseason berth. The Lions improve to 8-23 on the year and 5-11 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the victories. The Leopards conclude the season with a 6-27 overall record and an 0-18 league mark.

Kori Sorensen (Quincy, Mass.) paced the visitors offensively with four hits, four RBIs and five runs scored. Jamie Block (Pembroke, Mass.) drove in three runs and crossed the plate once. Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.), Britny Costa (New Bedford, Mass.), Abigail Moore (Sheridan, Calif.), Sterling Marino (North Kingstown, R.I.) and Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) all recorded a pair of RBIs on the day. Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) touched home four times and landed two base knocks.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning with four runs. With the bases loaded, Block lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score Losano from third. Clinkscale followed with a bunt which allowed Sorensen to advance to third and score on a throwing error. Cicolini plated Clinkscale with a two-run homer to center.

The Lions stretched their lead to 9-0 with a five-run frame in the fifth. Losano, Moore and Block all collected RBI singles with one away. Costa drove in Kendra Brasil (Haverhill, Mass.) and Cicolini with a two-run single to centerfield.

Sorensen pitched a one-hit shutout while registering five strikeouts to earn her sixth victory of the spring in the circle.

Wentworth captured a 4-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning. With two runners aboard, Liz Glavin raced around the bases and crossed the plate safely with an inside-the-park homer as Sam Curran and Erin McKinnon scored. Haylee Bacik hit a ground-rule double to left to drive in Karsyn Sawyer.

Eastern Nazarene responded with five runs in the top of the second to claim a 5-4 edge. Marino drew a bases-loaded walk and Clinkscale jogged home to get the visitors on the board. Krystal Holl (Hagerstown, Md.) scampered home on a wild pitch to cut the deficit in half, 4-2. Moore and Block drew back-to-back walks to pull the Lions level with the Leopards at 4-4. Clinkscale followed with a walk to drive in Sorensen with the go-ahead run.

The Lions tacked on four runs in the fourth to increase the gap to 9-4. Block motored home from first base on a two-out triple to center by Clinkscale. Clinkscale touched the plate on a wild pitch and Holl followed with a run as Costa singled to right. Marino laced a single to left field to plate Costa with Eastern Nazarene's fourth run of the inning.

The visitors padded their lead with a pair of runs in the fifth to take an 11-4 advantage. Losano trotted home as Sorensen swiped second and moved up to third on an errant throw. Sorensen crossed the plate as a passed ball got by the hosts' catcher.

Eastern Nazarene scored four times in the sixth to cap its run total at 15. Sorensen connected for her first collegiate home run, a grand slam to left to score Olivia Tovar (Coarsegold, Calif.), Losano and Costa.

Sorensen picked up her seventh win of the season in the pitcher's circle, tossing 5.2 innings in a relief outing. The sophomore struck out nine batters while allowing three hits and no runs.

Up next, the Lions will host Nichols April 24 at Mitchell/McCoy Field in the final home doubleheader of the 2013 campaign. Eastern Nazarene will then compete in one of two play-in games of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament.