Softball Powers Past Maine-Presque Isle, 10-1 & 12-4

WINCHESTER, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team toppled Maine-Presque Isle 10-1 and 12-4 in a non-conference twinbill Saturday afternoon.

The Lions climb to 5-11 on the season with the two victories while the Owls sink to 1-15 overall.

Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) racked up six hits, five runs scored, and four RBIs on the day. Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) posted four base knocks, four runs scored, and three RBIs. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) notched two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) chipped in with three hits, two RBIs, and one run scored.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene cruised to a 10-1 win in five innings.

The Lions exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning to capture a 5-0 lead. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) raked a single to left field to drive in Brandt from second base. Adams scorched a double to the gap in left-centerfield to plate Castro. Chelsea De Martini (Budd Lake,N.J.) notched her first career homer, an inside-the-park home run to knock in Adams and Giddings.

The Owls got on the board in the top of the fifth, scoring once to cut the deficit to 5-1. Jordan Hansen smacked an inside-the-park home run to deep left field.

Eastern Nazarene produced five runs and no outs in the home half of the fifth inning to clinch a 10-1 win. Ashley Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) drew a bases-loaded walk to score De Martini from third. Brandt followed with a single to left field to plate Madison Murray (Lakeville, Mass.). Mackenzie Murray (Lakeville, Mass.) picked up an RBI walk with the bases full as Schwenger crossed the dish. Olaveson landed a walk-off, two-run base knock to drive in Caldwell and Brandt.

De Martini spun a complete game in the pitcher's circle and finished with three strikeouts in her fourth start.

In the second contest, Eastern Nazarene prevailed 12-4 in five innings.

The Lions snagged a 1-0 edge with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Brandt led off the frame with an inside-the-park home run to left field.

Eastern Nazarene manufactured a pair of runs in the second to widen the gap to 3-0. Mackenzie Murray lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate Giddings from third. Ashley Mieses (Bronx, N.Y.) scampered home on a wild pitch.

Maine-Presque Isle tallied four runs in the top of the third inning to capture a 4-3 lead.

The Lions responded with a two-out rally to post four runs in the bottom of the frame to grab a 7-4 advantage. Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) flared a double down the right field line to knock in Brandt from third base. Giddings followed with a double to left field to score Ozaki. Schwenger landed an RBI single to plate Giddings. Mieses collected her first collegiate hit and RBI with a single to drive in Schwenger.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up five runs in the fourth to stretch the margin to 12-4. Brandt laced her second inside-the-park homer of the game to score Mackenzie Murray. With two outs in the inning, Giddings slapped a double down the left field line to knock in Adams before Schwenger rolled a single back up the middle to score Giddings.

Giddings pitched three innings in her first start of the season and registered two strikeouts. Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) worked two scoreless innings and fanned three batters in her second relief appearance.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene hosts Emmanuel April 3.