Softball Splits with Roger Williams on Senior Day

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team split the final regular-season conference doubleheader against Roger Williams Saturday afternoon at Mitchell/McCoy Field. The Lions dropped game one 6-3 before rolling to a 7-1 win.

The Lions move to 24-10 on the year and 13-5 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, setting a new program-record for most league victories in a season. The Hawks progress to 6-25-1 overall and 5-10-1 in conference action with the results.

Prior to the start of game one, the Eastern Nazarene College softball team honored the program's two graduating seniors: Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) and Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.).

Heidi Gomez drove in four RBIs on the day while adding two hits and one run scored. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) landed four hits, scored three runs, and picked up one RBI. Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.) finished with four base knocks, one RBI, and one run. Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.) posted three hits, two RBIs, and scored once. Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) chipped in with three hits and one run scored while Rebecca Ashman (Havre de Grace, Md.) and Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) each contributed with a pair of base knocks.

In game one, Roger Williams notched a 6-3 victory as each team posted 10 hits.

The hosts claimed an early 1-0 edge with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Heidi Gomez roped a single to right-center to drive in Santos from second base.

The visitors plated two runs to jump ahead 2-1 in the third. Haley Ledbetter crossed the dish as Alexis Romano reached on an error. Micaela Pohl doubled down the left field line to score Romano from first.

Roger Williams chalked up a run in the fifth inning to widen the gap to 3-1 as Ledbetter launched a one-out home run to centerfield.

The Hawks tacked on a score in the sixth to extend their lead to 4-1. Tara Chatowski rounded third and motored home as Katrina Goria singled down the left field line.

The guests generated two runs in the top of the seventh to stretch the margin to 6-1. Amanda Boulter grounded a single to left field to plate Tara Chatowsky and Romano.

Eastern Nazarene tallied two runs in the home half of the frame to cut the deficit to 6-3. After Santos led off the inning with a double off the fence in left field, Garrick raked a single to right field to knock in Santos. Garrick scurried home as Heidi Gomez reached on a fielder's choice.

Heidi Gomez pitched 5.2 innings and recorded five strikeouts. Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) tossed 1.1 innings of relief and fanned four batters.

In the second game, Eastern Nazarene rebounded to collect a 7-1 victory to salvage the split.

The Lions established a 4-0 lead with a four-run frame in the second inning. Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.) drew a bases-loaded walk to score Heidi Gomez. Bow scampered home from third base as Santos reached first on an error. After a pitching change, Garrick laced a single to left center to drive in Schaffer before Huerta crossed the dish as Weidler reached on a fielder's choice.

The Hawks got on the board in the top of the third to trim the deficit to 4-1. Micaela Pohl doubled down the left field line to plate Taylor Chatowsky.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up two runs in the fifth to push its lead to 6-1. Heidi Gomez scorched a single up the middle to knock in Olivia Warren (Webster, N.Y.) and Weidler.

The home side added a run in the sixth inning to extend its advantage to 7-1 as Weidler flared a base hit to right-center to score Santos.

Schaffer hurled her 14th complete game of the spring and racked up 14 strikeouts.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene travels to Newbury April 23 for a non-conference doubleheader.