Softball Rolls Past Hilbert, Edged by Thiel in Extras

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team cruised to a 17-3 win over Hilbert before enduring a 10-9 extra-innings loss to Thiel Wednesday.

ENC VS. HILBERT
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 17, Hilbert 3
Records: Lions (3-2) | Hawks (0-5)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Nazarene rattled off six runs in the bottom of the first inning to establish a 6-0 advantage. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.), Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.), and Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) each picked up an RBI before Chelsea De Martini (Budd Lake, N.J.) crushed a three-run homer.
• The Lions added a pair of runs in the second to widen the margin to 8-0. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) belted her team-leading third home run, a two-run blast to drive in Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.).
• Eastern Nazarene erupted for seven runs in the third frame to stretch its lead to 15-0. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.), Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.), Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.), Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.), and Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) all registered RBI base hits in the inning.
• Hilbert got on the board in the top of the fourth inning, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 15-3.
• The Lions tacked on a pair of run in the home half of the fourth to expand the gap to 17-3. Daitriana Gongora (Bridgeport, Conn.) raked a single to left field to knock in Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.). Daitiriana Gongora (Bridgeport, Conn.) crossed the dish on an RBI groundout by Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.).
  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) posted five RBIs, two hits, and one run scored.
• Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) and Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) both finished with two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
• Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) registered three base knocks and scored four runs.
• Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) chipped in with a pair of base knocks, two runs scored, and one RBI.
• Chelsea De Martini (Budd Lake, N.J.) recorded three RBIs, two runs scored, and one hit while Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) chalked up three RBIs and one base hit.
• Morgan Bruner (Litchfield, N.H.) spun her first career complete game and struck out four in her first start of the season in the pitcher's circle.

ENC VS. THIEL
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 9, Thiel 10
Records: Lions (3-3) | Tomcats (2-3)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Nazarene snagged a 1-0 edge with one run in the top of the first inning. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) crossed the dish on a squeeze bunt by Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.).
• Thiel responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to tie the score at 1-1.
• The Tomcats plated one run in the second to capture a 2-1 lead.
• The Lions answered with three runs in the third inning to reclaim the lead, 4-2. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) launched her first home run of the season, a three-run shot to plate Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) and Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.).
• Eastern Nazarene produced a pair of runs in the fourth to stretch its advantage to 6-2. Daitriana Gongora (Bridgeport, Conn.) tagged up and scampered home as Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) lifted a sacrifice fly. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) followed with an RBI single to drive in Mackenzie Murray (Lakeville, Mass.).
• Thiel manufactured three runs in the fifth frame to cut the deficit to 6-5.
• The Lions scored twice in the top of the sixth to push their lead to 8-5. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) and Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) both scored on an RBI groundout by Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.).
• The Tomcats tallied two runs in the bottom of the sixth to narrow the margin to 8-7.
• Thiel equalized at 8-8 with one run in the home half of the seventh inning.
• Eastern Nazarene recaptured a one-run edge with a score in the top of the eighth, 9-8. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) scorched a one-out base knock to plate Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) from third base for the go-ahead run.
• The Tomcats notched a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to walk-off with a 10-9 win. Dani Ficeti laced a single to right field to knock in Mila Brdar for the game-tying run. Hayne Dyne's sacrifice fly drove in Julianna Sloan from third for the game-winning run.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) finished 5-for-5 from the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored.
• Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) posted two base hits, three RBIs, and a run scored.
• Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) chipped in with a pair of hits, three runs scored, and two stolen bases.
• Mackenzie Murray (Lakeville, Mass.) and Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) each recorded two hits and scored one run.
• Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) started in the pitcher's circle and threw five innings while striking out seven in her third start. Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) worked 2.2 innings of relief in her third pitching appearance of the spring.

UP NEXT:
Eastern Nazarene battles DeSales and Centenary (N.J.) March 9.