Softball Splits Doubleheader at New England College Sunday

HENNIKER, N.H.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team traded victories at New England College Sunday, triumphing 6-3 in extra innings before dropping an 8-1 decision.

The Lions progress to 14-2 on the year and 8-2 in the New England Collegiate Conference with the outcomes. The Pilgrims move to 8-2 overall and 4-2 in league competition.

Adriana Montuya (American Canyon, Calif.) posted two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) chipped in with a pair of base knocks and one RBI. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) finished with two hits while Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) contributed with one hit, one RBI, and a run scored.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene rallied to pick up a 6-3 extra-innings victory to extend its winning streak to nine games in a row.

New England College snagged a 1-0 edge with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Emily Nelson roped a two-out double to left-centerfield to drive in Destiny Helmedach.

The Pilgrims produced a pair of runs in the second to widen the gap to 3-0 as Taylor Maher and Rachel Senechal each collected on RBI.

The visitors cut the deficit to 3-2 with two runs in the top of the fourth. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) scurried home on a throwing error after swiping third base. Montuya knocked in Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) from third with an RBI groundout.

The Lions leveled the contest at 3-3 in the seventh as Montuya launched a lead-off home run for her second homer of the season.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up three runs in the top of the ninth inning to claim a 6-3 advantage. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) scored the go-ahead run as Munoz reached on an error. Bowden laced a single to left field to plate Munoz before Montuya crossed the dish on a wild pitch.

Munoz hurled her sixth complete game of the spring and finished with three strikeouts to improve to 7-0 in the pitcher's circle.

In second tilt of the day, New England College earned an 8-1 win to salvage the split series and to hand Eastern Nazarene its second loss of the season.

The Lions manufactured one run in the third to capture a 1-0 lead. Schwenger roped a two-out base knock to right field to drive in Bowden.

The Pilgrims generated six runs in the bottom of the fourth to jump ahead 6-1 and tacked on a pair of runs in the home half of the sixth inning to push their advantage to 8-1.

Montuya tossed a complete game in her fifth start of the year and recorded four strikeouts.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene will host New England College April 20 in a key conference series.