Softball Earns Two Thrilling Victories Over Western New England

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team notched a pair of crucial league wins over Western New England Wednesday evening under the lights at Mitchell/McCoy Field, triumphing 3-0 before securing the sweep with a walk-off 4-3 victory.

The Lions improve to 22-8 on the year and 11-3 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Golden Bears fall to 17-13 overall and 10-4 in conference play.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) posted five hits and three RBIs in the doubleheader. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) finished with three hits and three runs scored. Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) collected two base knocks, two RBIs, and scored one run. Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) landed a pair of hits while Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) chipped in with one hit and one RBI.

In game one, the home side finished with an 8-3 advantage in hits to blank the visitors 3-0.

Eastern Nazarene generated all three of its runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Weidler raked a single up the middle to drive in Santos from third. Clements followed with a laser off the centerfield fence to plate Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.). Bow laced a base knock to left to score Tylan Onorato (Wiscassett, Maine) from third base.

Schaffer pitched a complete game shutout and allowed three hits while fanning eight batters.

In the series finale, the Lions prevailed 4-3 in dramatic fashion with an eighth-inning walk-off.

Western New England seized a 1-0 edge in the top of the fourth. After Jenn Luba tripled to lead off the inning, Aimee Kistner singled up the middle to drive in the first run of the game.

Eastern Nazarene responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to capture a 2-1 advantage. Clements roped a single to center to knock in Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.) and Weidler.

The Golden Bears reclaimed the lead with two runs in the sixth inning, 3-2. Lindsay Williams smacked a double down the left field line to score Mallory Donelan and Cassidy Howe.

The Lions equalized in the home half of the inning, 3-3. Clements scorched a two-out double to the gap in right-centerfield to plate Santos to pick up her team-leading 34th RBI of the year.

The home team scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. After Santos started the frame on second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Garrick, Weidler slapped a base hit up the middle to drive in the winning run.

Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) tossed 5.2 innings and recorded one strikeout in her ninth start of the spring. Weidler worked 2.1 innings in her third relief appearance of the season and finished with three strikeouts.

Looking, Eastern Nazarene ventures to the University of New England April 20 for a pair of league tilts.