Softball Sweeps Mitchell Sunday, 9-6 & 21-8

NEW LONDON, Conn.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team ran its winning-streak to eight-straight with two wins at Mitchell Sunday afternoon. The visitors claimed a 9-6 come-from-behind victory before surging for a 21-8 win in five frames.

The Lions ascend to 13-1 on the season and 7-1 in the New England Collegiate Conference with the pair of wins. The Mariners slip to 2-9 overall and 0-4 in league action with the outcomes.

Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) racked up seven hits on the day to go with three runs scored, two RBIs, and two stolen bases. Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) recorded six hits, four runs scored, two RBIs, and a stolen base. Adriana Montuya (American Canyon, Calif.) finished with five base knocks, three RBIs, two runs, and one stolen base. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) posted four hits, four RBIs, and scored four runs. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) registered six RBIs, four runs scored, three hits, and a pair of stolen bases. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) chipped in with three hits, five runs scored, and four RBIs while Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Conn.) added five RBIs on the day.

In the matinee matchup, Eastern Nazarene rallied from a 5-1 deficit to secure its seventh-consecutive victory with a 9-6 decision.

The visitors snagged a 1-0 edge with a run in the top of the first inning. Olaveson slapped a single up the middle to plate Hayner from third base.

The home side chalked up four runs in the bottom of the frame to grab a 4-1 lead and added a run in the second to push the margin to 5-1.

Eastern Nazarene produced six runs in the third to jump ahead by two, 7-5. Adams clobbered her conference-leading seventh home run of the season to drive in Schwenger and Hayner. With the bases-loaded and two outs, Maliszewski raked a bases-clearing double to centerfield to score Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.), Montuya, and Brandt.

The Lions widened the gap to 8-5 with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Schwenger roped an RBI single to left to knock in Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.).

The guests tacked on a run in the sixth to stretch their advantage to 9-5 as Olaveson belted her fifth home run of the year.

Mitchell responded with a run in the home half of the sixth inning to narrow the deficit to 9-6.

Montuya tossed 1.1 innings and struck out two batters in her fourth start of the spring before Munoz pitched 5.2 innings of relief and finished with three strikeouts.

In the weekend-series finale, Eastern Nazarene stormed past Mitchell 21-8 behind 19 hits and five stolen bases in five innings.

The Lions rattled off 12 runs in the top of the first inning to establish an early 12-0 lead. Olaveson, Munoz, Maliszewski, Hayner, and Brandt all recorded two RBIs while Schwenger and Adams each added one RBI. Brandt launched her first home run of the spring to cap off the high-scoring frame.

The visitors registered three runs in the third to expand their advantage to 15-0. Brandt crossed the dish as Bowden reached on an error. Montuya laced a single back up the middle to drive in Munoz and Bowden.

The Mariners got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the third to trim the deficit to 15-2.

Eastern Nazarene answered with four scores in the fourth to increase the margin to 19-2. Brandt landed a two-run single in right field to knock in Adams and Olaveson before scurrying home on a wild pitch. Montuya roped a single to the gap in right-centerfield to score Munoz from second base.

Mitchell plated three runs in the home half of the frame to slice the gap to 19-5.

The Lions chalked up a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to run its lead to 21-5 as Brandt notched her fifth and sixth RBIs of the game with a base knock to drive in Olaveson and Adams.

The hosts tallied three runs in the fifth on a three-run home run by Maliah Pabellon.

In the pitcher's circle, Chelsea De Martini (Budd Lake, N.J.) threw her first complete game of the season in her first start of the year.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene will host the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in a midweek doubleheader April 15.