Softball Suffers Setbacks to York (Pa.), Franklin Saturday

CLERMONT, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team absorbed a pair of losses Saturday, falling to York (Pa.) 7-3 before dropping a 10-2 decision to Franklin.

The Lions slip to 1-3 on the season with the outcomes while the Spartans improve to 1-0 overall and the Grizzlies climb to 1-0 on the year.

Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) posted three hits and one RBI on the day. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) notched two base knocks, two RBIs, and a pair of runs scored. Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) chipped in with two hits and one RBI.

In the team's first game of the day, Eastern Nazarene endured a 7-3 setback to York.

The Spartans scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to claim a 2-0 lead. Alyssa Harhigh roped a double to left field to drive in Elle Meyer and Shyla Pastore.

The Lions responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to knot the contest at 2-2. Olaveson launched her first home run of the year to knock in Olivia Warren (Webster, N.Y.).

York regained a two-run advantage, 4-2, with two scores in the home half of the frame. Elle Denlinger doubled to left to score Harhigh and Meyer.

The Spartans tallied three runs in the sixth inning to widen the margin to 7-2. Harhigh laced a bases-clearing double to plate Natalie Decena, Meyer, and Pastore.

Eastern Nazarene plated a run in the seventh to trim the gap to 7-3. Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) raked a one-out double to left field to drive in Olaveson from first base.

Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) threw her second complete game of the spring and fanned nine batters.

Eastern Nazarene wrapped up the afternoon with a 10-2 five-inning loss to Franklin in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

The Grizzlies exploded for eight runs in the top of the first inning to establish an 8-0 advantage. Natalie Weber singled up the middle to plate Emily Thompson before Danielle Wyse blasted a three-run homer. Makiah Thomas landed a single in left field to drive in Samantha Cain. Sydney Rose tagged up and scurried home from third base on a sacrifice fly by Addison Csikos. Thompson followed with an RBI single to score Thomas from third before crossing the dish on a wild pitch.

The Lions got on the board with a run in the bottom of the frame to cut the gap to 8-1. Brandt lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) from third base.

Eastern Nazarene narrowed the margin to 8-2 with a run in the second inning. Bow scorched a single to right field to drive in Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.).

Franklin tacked on a run in the third to push its lead to 9-2. Thompson scored her third run of the contest on a two-out base knock by Sydney Rodeghier.

The Grizzlies scored once in the top of the fifth to capture a 10-2 advantage. Rodeghier picked up her second RBI of the game with a single to score Rose.

Rookie Chelsea De Martini (Budd Lake, N.J.) pitched 4.1 innings and recorded one strikeout in her first collegiate start in the pitcher's circle. Adriana Montuya (American Canyon, Calif.) worked two-thirds of an inning in her first relief appearance of the season.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene continues play in the Sunshine State with tilts against St. Joseph's (Maine) and John Carroll March 1.