Softball Sweeps Two-Game Set at Elms Saturday

CHICOPEE, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team returned to the win-column with a pair of victories at Elms Saturday afternoon, triumphing 15-5 and 7-3.

The Lions climb to 16-4 on the season and 10-4 in the New England Collegiate Conference with the wins. The Blazers slip to 0-10 overall and in league action with the two setbacks.

Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) racked up six hits, six RBIs, four runs scored, and two stolen bases on the day. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) posted four hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) notched five base knocks, two RBIs, and five runs scored. Adriana Montuya (American Canyon, Calif.) finished with three RBIs and a pair of hits.

In the opening game, Eastern Nazarene rolled to a 15-5 victory in five innings.

The visitors generated four runs in the top of the first to claim an early 4-0 lead. Adams singled to drive in Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) before Brandt laced a two-run double to score Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) and Adams. Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) followed with a sacrifice fly to knock in Brandt from third base.

The home side answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame to level the contest at 4-4 and snagged a one-run edge, 5-4, with one run in the second.

The Lions responded with three runs in the third to capture a 7-5 advantage. Brandt roped a double to centerfield to plate Olaveson before tagging up and scampering home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Montuya. Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) landed an RBI base knock to drive in Hayner from third.

Eastern Nazarene manufactured four runs in the fourth inning to widen the gap to 11-5. Schwenger crossed the dish on an RBI groundout by Castro and Brandt picked up her fourth RBI of the game with a single to score Adams. Hayner plated Olaveson with an RBI groundout and Montuya drove in Brandt with an infield hit.

The guests tacked on four runs in the fifth to stretch their lead to 15-5. Adams, Brandt, and Montuya all slapped RBI singles in the inning while Olaveson added a sacrifice fly.

Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) spun a complete game and finished with one strikeout in her ninth start in the pitcher's circle.

In the second clash of the twinbill, Eastern Nazarene earned a 7-3 win to secure the doubleheader sweep.

The Lions chalked up one run in the top of the first inning to seize a 1-0 edge. Olaveson lasered a double to left field to knock in Adams from second base.

Elms knotted the score at 1-1 with a run in the home half of the first. Alli Alleano crossed the dish on an RBI groundout by Josie Cammarata.

The visitors produced a pair of runs in the second inning to grab a 3-1 lead. Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) poked a single to centerfield to drive in Hayner before scoring on sacrifice fly by Giddings.

Eastern Nazarene scored once in the third to widen the gap to 4-1 as Brandt scorched a double to centerfield to plate Olaveson.

The Blazers tallied two runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the deficit to 4-3. Tyla Risucci and Ashley Papapietro each crossed the dish in the frame.

The Lions doubled their advantage to 5-3 with one run in the fifth. Olaveson raked a single to centerfield to drive in Adams.

Eastern Nazarene pushed across two runs in the sixth to stretch its lead to 7-3. Bowden laced a double to left to score Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Conn.) before Schwenger lifted a sacrifice fly to knock in Bowden.

Keira Niestas (Oceanside, Calif.) tossed a complete game in the pitcher's circle and fanned seven batters.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene will host Elms April 26 to close out the season series.