Softball Cruises by Monmouth (Ill.), Earns Walk-Off Win Over Bates Sunday

CLERMONT, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team earned a pair of victories Sunday afternoon, rolling past Monmouth (Ill.) 10-3 before edging Bates 5-4.

The Lions improve to 5-1 on the spring with the two wins. The Fighting Scots drop to 0-1 overall while the Bobcats also slide to 0-1 on the year.

Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.) posted three hits, three runs scored, and a pair of RBIs to lead the offense. Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) finished with two base knocks, two runs scored, and two RBIs on the day. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) collected a pair of hits, one run scored, and one RBI. Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) registered one base hit, two runs, and a pair of RBIs.

In the matinee game, Eastern Nazarene breezed by Monmouth 10-3.

The Lions erupted for six runs in the top of the second inning to establish a 6-0 lead. With the bases full, Hayner and Huerta roped back-to-back RBI singles to drive in Clements and Schaffer. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) and Hayner both crossed the dish as Rebecca Ashman (Havre de Grace, Md.) reached on an error. Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) laced a single to drive in Ashman from second base.

The Fighting Scots got on the board in the third to cut the deficit to 6-1. Alison Trettin doubled to left field to plate Angela Schaumburg from second.

Eastern Nazarene responded with a pair of scores in the fourth frame to widen the gap to 8-1. Huerta and Ashman each scampered home on wild pitches in the inning.

Monmouth picked up a pair of runs in the home half of the sixth to trim the margin to 8-3. Alexis Opel doubled to knock in Kaelan Bradley and Trettin.

The Lions plated two runs in the top of the seventh to regain a seven-run advantage, 10-3, as Schaffer belted her second home run of the season to score Tylan Onorato (Wiscassett, Maine).

In the pitcher's circle, Schaffer spun her third complete-game of the spring and finished with 11 strikeouts.

In the second contest of the day, Eastern Nazarene claimed a narrow 5-4 victory over Bates in walk-off fashion.

The Bobcats generated three runs in the top of the first inning to seize an early 3-0 lead. Janell Sato and Julia Panepinto landed consecutive RBI doubles before Andrea Russo followed with an RBI single up the middle.

The Lions jumped ahead by a run with four tallies in the bottom of the second, 4-3. Hayner, Huerta, and Ashman notched back-to-back-to-back RBI singles to knot the contest at 3-3. Ozaki drew a bases-loaded walk to knock in Huerta for the go-ahead score.

Bates pulled even at 4-4 with a run in the sixth. Aleah Pagan roped a one-out double to centerfield to drive in Russo from second base.

Eastern Nazarene clinched its fifth win of the season with a run in the home half of the seventh inning. Onorato rounded third and scored as Clements reached on an error.

Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) pitched 5.1 innings in her second start of the spring and fanned two batters. Schaffer tossed the final 1.2 innings and struck out three in her first relief appearance of the season.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene faces Rensselaer and Roanoke March 5.