Softball Drops Midweek Twinbill at Simmons

BRIGHTON, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team absorbed two losses at Simmons Wednesday evening under the lights at Daly Field, falling 10-3 and 11-3.

The Lions sink to 11-9 overall with the setbacks while the Sharks improve to 6-16 on the season.

Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) posted three hits, two RBIs, and one run scored on the night. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) notched two base knocks, two RBIS, and one run. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) chipped in with a pair of runs scored, one RBI, and one hit.

In game one, Simmons posted a 10-3 win after outhitting Eastern Nazarene 13-6.

The home side snagged a 1-0 edge with a run in the bottom of the first. Ivy Vann singled up the middle to drive in Lauren Del Vacchio.

The Sharks chalked up four runs in the second inning to extend their lead to 5-0. Allie Mulhern crossed the dish as Del Vacchio reached on an error. Christie Bott singled to right to plate Del Vacchio from second base. Vann stole home on a double-steal as Bott swiped second. Dom Ortiz followed with a double to left field to score Bott.

The visitors got on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 5-2. Coix raked a triple to the gap in right-centerfield to knock in Rebecca Ashman (Havre de Grace, Md.) before scampering home on a passed ball.

Simmons tallied three runs in the fourth to widen the margin to 8-2. Vann and Bott registered back-to-back RBI extra-base hits as Del Vacchio and Vann both scored in the inning.

Eastern Nazarene plated one run in the top of the sixth inning to narrow the gap to 8-3. Santos scorched a single up the middle to drive in Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) from third base.

The hosts responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to push their advantage to 10-3. Maddie Castigliego belted a two-run home run to centerfield that scored Ortiz.

Schaffer hurled a complete game in the pitcher's circle and finished with seven strikeouts.

In the nightcap, Simmons earned an 11-3 win in five innings to cap off the doubleheader-sweep.

The guests got out to an early 1-0 lead with one run across in the first inning. Coix scurried home from third base on a groundout by Santos.

The home team leveled the contest at 1-1 with a score in the bottom of the second. Alex Morang scored from second as Del Vacchio laced a double to centerfield.

Simmons produced a pair of runs in the third to claim a 3-1 edge. Vann tagged up and motored home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Shannon McMahon. Bott crossed the dish on an infield hit by Hailey Lowell.

Eastern Nazarene knotted the game at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the fourth. Clements crushed her team-leading fourth home run to knock in Santos.

The Sharks erupted for six runs in the home half of the fourth inning to vault ahead 9-3.

Simmons tacked on two runs in the fifth to extend its lead to 11-3. Ortiz and Marissa Santoro each picked up an RBI as Del Vacchio and Bott scored.

Meghan Stanley (Bedford, Mass.) pitched 4.2 innings in her fifth start of the year.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene returns to conference play April 5 with a pair of road games at Lesley.