Softball Knocks Off Saint Benedict, Moravian Wednesday

CLERMONT, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team defeated Saint Benedict 4-3 before topping previously-unbeaten Moravian 5-1 Wednesday at the PFX Spring Games.

The Lions rise to 6-4 on the season with the two wins. The Bennies, who are receiving votes in the latest NFCA National Poll, dip to 5-4 on the year while the Greyhounds fall to 5-1 overall with the outcomes.

Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) collected four base hits and a pair of RBIs on the day. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) notched three hits, two runs scored, and one RBI. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) finished with a base knock, two RBIs, and a pair of runs scored. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) chipped in with two hits and one run scored while Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) added one hit and two runs scored.

In the matinee contest, Eastern Nazarene earned a 4-3 victory over Saint Benedict.

The Lions erupted for four runs in the bottom of the first inning to seize a 4-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Olaveson roped a single to centerfield to plate Santos before Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) scurried home from third on a wild pitch. Courtney McGraw (Woodland, Calif.) collected her first RBI of the spring with a base knock to drive in Brandt. Bow followed with an RBI single to drive in Olaveson.

The Bennies scored twice in the top of the third to trim the deficit in half, 4-2. Sheridan Glashan laced a two-out single to plate Jordyn Swoboda and Kendra Swanson.

Saint Benedict narrowed the margin to 4-3 with a run in the fourth. Caitlin Heinen crossed the dish as Codi Zwack reached on an error.

Adriana Montuya (American Canyon, Calif.) pitched 5.1 innings and posted a pair of strikeouts in her third start of the season. Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) worked 1.2 innings in her first relief appearance of the season to pick up her second career save.

Eastern Nazarene used a strong start to power past Moravian 5-1 in its second tilt of the day.

The Lions produced five runs in the top of the first to garner a 5-0 advantage. Brandt notched her team-leading 11th RBI of the year with a single to left to drive in Santos. Schwenger and Ozaki both scored as Olaveson reached on a fielder's choice. Bow raked a one-out single to plate Brandt before Olaveson crossed the dish as Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) reached on a fielder's choice.

The Greyhounds got on the board in the home half of the second inning to trim the deficit to 5-1. Alexis Agrapides drove in Shannon Brogan from second base with a two-out base knock to right field.

Schaffer threw 66th career complete game and finished with five strikeouts in her seventh start of the year.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will wrap up its trip to the Sunshine State with tilts against Loras and Adrian March 5.