Softball Downed by Salve Regina in CCC Tournament Opener, 8-0

BEVERLY, Mass.- The No. 6 seed Eastern Nazarene College softball team suffered an 8-0 setback in five innings to third-seeded Salve Regina Tuesday afternoon at Endicott College in the first game of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament.

The Lions fall to 16-24 overall and will take on No. 5 seed Roger Williams in an elimination game Thursday at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Seahawks improve to 21-16 on the year and advanced to play second-seeded Endicott Tuesday evening.

Kaitlyn Jimenez (Meriden, Conn.) and Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) each landed one base hit in the contest.

Salve Regina plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning to claim an early 3-0 lead. Elizabeth Lombardo laced a single into right field to drive in Francesca Galeazzi from second base. Lindsey Florent crossed the dish on an error and Lexi Soucie poked a single to right to knock in Kara O'Riley.

The Seahawks chalked up three runs in the second to widen the margin to 6-0. Florent rolled a single up the middle to plate Amanda Riley. Lombardo followed with an RBI triple to drive in Florent and motored home on an error.

Salve Regina added a run in the third to stretch its advantage to 7-0. Genevieve Benoit crossed the dish as Riley roped a double down the left field line.

The Seahawks increase their lead to 8-0 as Lombardo led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run.

Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) pitched three innings and struck out two batters in her 17th start of the season. Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) worked one inning of relief in her fifth appearance of the spring.