Brandt, Olaveson Record 100th Career Hits as Softball Splits with Saint Joseph (Conn.)

WINCHESTER, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Saint Joseph (Conn.) Tuesday afternoon, dropping a 10-9 decision before triumphing 4-2.

The Lions progress to 13-15 on the season with the results while the Blue Jays move to 14-17 overall.

Juniors Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) and Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) both notched their 100th career base hits in the twinbill.

Brandt posted four hits, four RBIs, two stolen bases, and a pair of runs scored. Olaveson finished with four base knocks, one RBI, and two runs scored. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) chipped in with three hits, two RBIs, and one run scored. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) registered two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

In the opening contest, Eastern Nazarene absorbed a narrow 10-9 loss to Saint Joseph.

The Blue Jays produced a pair of runs in the top of the first to seize a 2-0 edge. Frankie Ferrante and Alexandra Silver both crossed the dish as Riley Mulligan reached on an error.

The Lions scored once in the bottom of the first inning to cut the deficit to 2-1. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) scampered home from third base as Brandt stole second.

Eastern Nazarene leveled the game at 2-2 with a run in the third. Brandt laced a single to left field to drive in Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Calif.).

Saint Joseph tallied a run in the fourth to reclaim a one-run lead, 3-2. Mikaila Masterson rolled a single back up the middle to plate Kelsie LaHouse.

The Blue Jays manufactured three runs in the fifth inning to widen the margin to 6-2. Ferrante laced an inside-the-park home run to left field to knock in Jenna Zup before Silver motored home on an RBI groundout by Mulligan.

Saint Joseph tacked on a run in the top of the sixth to extend its advantage to 7-2. Ferrante scorched a base knock to drive in Adriana Quealy.

The Lions rallied for seven runs in the home half of the sixth to capture a 9-7 lead. Castro raked an infield hit to score Olaveson from second base. Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) followed with a single to centerfield to plate Adams and Castro. Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) lasered a single to left field to knock in Ozaki from third. Brandt collected her 100th career hit as she clobbered an inside-the-park homer to deep left field to drive in Ashley Mieses (Bronx, N.Y.) and Giddings.

The Blue Jays responded with three runs in the seventh inning to grab a 10-9 edge. Quealy poked a single to right field to plate LaHouse before Brianna Catalani scored the game-tying run on an RBI groundout by Jenna Masiello. Zup delivered a two-out single to drive in Quealy for the go-ahead run.

In the pitcher's circle, Chelsea De Martini (Budd Lake, N.J.) threw a complete game in her sixth start of the season and finished with three strikeouts.

In game two, Eastern Nazarene clipped Saint Joseph 4-2.

The Lions generated two runs in the bottom of the first inning to snag a 2-0 edge. Castro flared a base knock to right field to drive in Schwenger. Adams slapped a two-out single to left field to plate Olaveson.

The Blue Jays chalked up two runs in the third inning to knot the contest at 2-2. Masiello roped a double to centerfield to score Amanda Savinelli before

Eastern Nazarene posted two runs in the home half of the frame to regain a two-run lead, 4-2. After a leadoff triple by Brandt, Olaveson lined a single to centerfield to drive in Brandt. Adams roped a base hit to centerfield to knock in Castro from second base.

Giddings fired her first career complete game and fanned five batters in her third start of the year.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene travels to Regis April 21.