Softball Earns Victories Over Mount Union, Wheelock
MINNEOLA, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team downed Mount Union 4-1 and cruised to a 12-0 win over Wheelock in five innings Monday at the PFX Spring Games.
The Lions climb to 4-2 on the season with the two victories. The Purple Raiders fall to 1-4 overall and the Wildcats slide to 0-3 on the year.
Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.) notched five base hits, six runs scored, and one RBI on the day. Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) drove in five RBIs, landed four hits, and scored three times. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) finished with three hits, three runs scored, and an RBI. Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) registered a pair of hits, two RBIs, and crossed the dish twice while Olivia Warren (Webster, N.Y.) chipped in with three hits and picked up her first collegiate RBI.
In the first game of the day, Eastern Nazarene bested Mount Union 4-1 behind a 10-strikeout, complete-game effort by Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) in the pitcher's circle.
The Purple Raiders nabbed an early 1-0 edge with a run in the top of the first inning. Margaret Dominick singled up the middle to drive in Morgan Riley from second base.
The Lions responded with a run in the home half of the frame to level the contest at 1-1. Schaffer laced a two-out single up the middle to plate Garrick from second.
Eastern Nazarene jumped ahead 3-1 with a pair of scores in the third. Weidler clobbered her second home run of the spring with Garrick scoring on the blast.
The Lions added a run in the fifth to widen the margin to 4-1. Garrick scurried home for the third time in the game on an infield single off the bat of Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.).
Eastern Nazarene wrapped up the day with a 12-0 five-inning victory over Wheelock.
The Lions exploded for four runs in the top of the first to claim a 4-0 advantage. Garrick tagged up and scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.). With two runners in scoring position, Emily Gomez roped a triple to left to drive in Weidler and Bow. Warren followed with an RBI single to plate Emily Gomez.
Eastern Nazarene manufactured three runs in the second inning to push its lead to 7-0. Santos crossed the dish as Garrick reached base on an error before Weidler launched her third homer of the season.
The Lions tacked on a run in the fourth to stretch the gap to 8-0. Weidler collected her third RBI of the game with a double to left to drive in Santos.
Eastern Nazarene produced four runs in the fifth inning to extend its advantage to 12-0. Emily Gomez scampered home on a wild pitch before Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.) scored on a double to left field by Santos. Garrick lined a single to center to plate Santos from second base. Weidler reached on an outfield error that allowed Garrick to motor home from first.
Heidi Gomez spun a complete game in her third start of the year and finished with nine strikeouts.
Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene continues play in the PFX Spring Games March 6 against Nebraska Wesleyan and Mitchell.