Softball Sweeps Key Series at Lesley, Clinches Top Seed in NECC Tournament

REVERE, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team notched a pair of pivotal wins at Lesley Sunday afternoon to capture the No. 1 seed in the New England Collegiate Conference Tournament. The Lions rolled past the Lynx 10-0 in five innings and 9-1 in six innings to wrap up the regular season.

With the victories, Eastern Nazarene improves to 21-5 on the year and 14-4 in the New England Collegiate Conference. Lesley falls to 13-5 overall and 13-5 in league play with Sunday's results.

Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) racked up six RBIs, five hits, three runs scored, and one stolen base. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) posted six hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) notched three base knocks, three RBIs, one run scored, and a stolen base. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) finished with three hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) added a pair of hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored while Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) chipped in with four base knocks.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene cruised to a 10-0 win in five innings.

The visitors pounced on an early 5-0 lead, plating five runs in the top of the first inning. Brandt roped a double to right-centerfield to drive in Adams and Schwenger. Olaveson followed with an infield hit to knock in Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) from third base. Munoz laced a one-out double to right-centerfield to score Olaveson and Brandt.

The Lions manufactured three runs in the third to widen their advantage to 8-0. Olaveson crossed the dish on an RBI fielder's choice by Hayner before Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) scampered home from third on an error. Adams landed a two-out base knock to drive in Munoz from second base.

Eastern Nazarene added a pair of runs to extend its lead to 10-0 in the fourth. Hayner raked a single to right-centerfield to plate Bowden and Brandt.

Munoz spun a complete game in the pitcher's circle and finished with two strikeouts in her 12th start of the spring.

In game two, the Lions triumphed 9-1 in six innings to secure their sixth-straight conference victory.

The guests nabbed a 1-0 edge with a run in the top of the first inning. Olaveson slapped a double to the gap in left-centerfield to drive in Castro.

Lesley leveled the contest at 1-1 with one run in the home half of the first. Riley Pickett launched a two-out, solo home run.

Eastern Nazarene reclaimed a one-run lead, 2-1, in the second as Adams laced a single to left to knock in Munoz.

The Lions doubled their advantage to 3-1 with one run in the third inning. Brandt dashed home as Bowden advanced to second on a failed pick-off attempt.

The visitors produced six runs in the sixth frame to push their lead to 9-1. Adams roped a single to centerfield to plate Hayner before Castro drew a bases-loaded walk to score Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho). Olaveson cleared the bases as she belted her sixth homer of the season, a grand slam to drive in Adams, Castro, and Schwenger.

In her second start of the day, Munoz tossed her 11th complete game of the year and fanned four batters while scattering three hits and one walk.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will host the New England Collegiate Conference Tournament May 7-9.