Softball Suffers Setbacks to No. 13 Mount St. Joseph, Capital

CLERMONT, Fla.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team absorbed a 7-0 loss to nationally-ranked Mount St. Joseph before dropping a 9-8 decision to Capital Monday afternoon at the PFX Spring Games.

The Lions slip to 2-3 on the season with the two results. The Mount St. Joseph Lions, ranked No. 13 in the latest NFCA National Poll, improved to 6-4 overall while the Comets improve to 1-2 overall.

Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) collected three hits, one RBI, and a pair of runs scored on the day. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) recorded three base knocks while adding one RBI and one run scored. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) and Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) each notched two hits and two RBIs.

In the matinee contest, Eastern Nazarene dropped a 7-0 decision to nationally-ranked Mount St. Joseph.

Mount St. Joseph tallied a run in the bottom of the second to establish a 1-0 edge as Sara Kardos launched a leadoff homer.

Mount St. Joseph doubled its advantage to 2-0 with a run in the third. Macy Cornelius scampered home on an infield hit by Kardos.

Mount St. Joseph tacked up two runs in the fourth to widen the gap to 4-0 and added three runs in the home half of the sixth inning to push its lead to 7-0.

Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) recorded a pair of strikeouts in a complete-game effort in the pitcher's circle.

In the second game of the day, Eastern Nazarene narrowly fell 9-8 to Capital.

The Lions generated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab a 2-0 lead. Castro raked a single up the middle to drive in Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) and Olaveson.

The Comets produced four runs in the top of the second to claim a 4-2 advantage. Liz Stonerock scored from third as H Clair reached on a fielder's choice. Tiffany Zuelzke smacked a two-out double to centerfield to knock in Maci Stults, Kelcie Schnitzler and Hannah St. Clair.

Eastern Nazarene leveled the contest at 4-4 with two scores in the bottom of the second inning. Brandt laced a double down the left field line to plate Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.). Olaveson followed with a base knock up the middle to score Brandt from second base.

Capital regained a one-run edge in the third, tallying one run. Krislyn Bayles scampered home as Kayedon Martin reached on a fielder's choice.

The Lions manufactured two runs to capture a 6-5 lead in the home half of the third frame. Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) launched a two-run homer to right-center to plate Ashley Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) with two outs.

Eastern Nazarene tallied a run in the fourth inning to widen the margin 7-5. Ozaki batted a single up the middle to knock in Adams from second.

Capital scored four runs in the sixth to seize a 9-7 advantage as Lexie Leggett, Keana Walters, Zuelzke, and Bayles all crossed the dish.

The Lions trimmed the deficit to 9-8 with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Ozaki roped a two-out base knock to drive in Brandt.

Munoz tossed two innings in her fifth start of the season and posted two strikeouts. Chelsea De Martini (Budd Lake, N.J.) worked four innings in her second relief outing of the spring and fanned one batter.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will battle Bridgewater State and Sage March 9.