Softball Notches Two Victories Over Mitchell, 4-2 & 6-3

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team topped Mitchell twice Saturday afternoon at Mitchell/McCoy Field, collecting a 4-2 win before prevailing 6-3.

The Lions improve to 12-14 on the spring and 3-1 in the New England Collegiate Conference with the victories. The Mariners dip to 12-14 overall and 2-2 in league competition with the results.

Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) racked up five hits, five RBIs, one stolen base, and a run scored. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) posted three hits, three runs scored, one RBI, and a stolen base. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) notched two base knocks, two runs scored, one RBI, and one stolen base. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) landed two hits, scored two runs, and stolen a pair of bases.

In the opening tilt, Eastern Nazarene edged Mitchell 4-2.

The visitors tallied a run in the top of the first inning to snag a 1-0 lead. Gemma Landry scurried home from third as Jenna Bennett was thrown out attempting to steal second base.

The home team answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first frame to capture a 2-1 advantage. Schwenger scampered home on a wild pitch before Adams roped a double to right-centerfield to drive in Olaveson.

Eastern Nazarene added a run in the fifth to double its lead to 3-1. Adams laced a single to right field to pick up her second RBI of the contest, scoring Brandt from second base.

The Lions tacked on one run in the sixth inning to widen the margin to 4-1. Ashley Mieses (Bronx, N.Y.) crossed the dish on an RBI sacrifice bunt by Schwenger.

Mitchell chalked up a run in the seventh to trim the gap to 4-2. Hannah Lemke slapped a one-out single to centerfield to plate Nene Capeles.

Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) spun her 16th complete game of the spring and finished with five strikeouts.

In the series finale, Eastern Nazarene fended off a late rally to secure a 6-3 win.

The Lions exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning to establish a 5-0 advantage. Olaveson scorched a double to right-centerfield to drive in Schwenger. Adams followed with a double off the fence in centerfield to score Brandt and Olaveson. Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) rolled a single back up the middle to knock in Adams from second base. Munoz poked a two-out base hit to right field to plate Ozaki.

The hosts manufactured one run in the fourth to extend their lead to 6-0. Adams raked a double down the left field line to score Olaveson.

Mitchell generated three runs in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Munoz tossed her second complete game of the afternoon and registered a pair of strikeouts.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene hosts St. Joseph (Conn.) April 19 in a non-league doubleheader.