Softball Edges Emmanuel in Extra Innings, 5-4

CLERMONT, Fla- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team eked out a 5-4 extra-inning victory over Emmanuel Sunday afternoon at the PFX Spring Games.

The Lions elevate to 2-1 on the season with the win while the Saints sink to 0-1 overall.

Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) notched a pair of hits and two RBIs in the contest. Ashley Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) registered two base knocks and scored one run. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) finished with two RBIs, two runs scored, and a base hit.

Emmanuel seized a 1-0 edge with a run in the bottom of the second inning as Lyla Niederberger scurried home from third base.

Eastern Nazarene manufactured four runs in the third to claim a 4-1 advantage. With the bases full, Olaveson roped a double to right field to drive in Caldwell and Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.). Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) followed with a base knock to plate Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) from third base. Ozaki lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Olaveson.

The Saints chalked up three runs in the fifth to level the contest at 4-4. Jadynne Hill laced a double to knock in Julyanne Pacheco and Avery Webb. Hill scampered home on an infield hit off the bat of Renae Lacroix.

The Lions pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth to snag a 5-4 lead. Ozaki poked a one-out single to right-centerfield to drive in Olaveson from second.

Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) spun her second complete game of the season and finished with six strikeouts.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene will face Capital and No. 13 Mount St. Joseph March 7 at the PFX Spring Games.