Softball Sweeps Opening NECC Series at Lesley Sunday

LEXINGTON, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team started New England Collegiate Conference play with a pair of wins Sunday afternoon, topping Lesley 10-3 and 13-3.

GAME ONE
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 10, Lesley 3
Records: Lions (6-9, 1-0 NECC) | Lynx (1-10, 0-1 NECC)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Lesley scored a run in the bottom of the first to snag a 1-0 edge.
• Eastern Nazarene generated five runs in the top of the third inning to claim a 5-1 lead. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) roped a double to left field to drive in Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) from third base. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) followed with a single to plate Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.). Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) belted her second home run of the spring, a two-run shot to score Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.). Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) followed with a solo blast for her first homer of the year.
• The Lynx tallied two runs in the home half of the frame to cut the deficit to 5-3.
• The Lions plated one run in the fourth to push their advantage to 6-3. Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) picked up her second RBI of the game with a double to right field to drive in Ashley Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.).
• Eastern Nazarene manufactured three runs in the sixth inning to widen the gap to 9-3. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) launched her team-leading fourth home run of the spring, a two-run dinger to plate Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.). With two outs and the bases full, Madison Murray (Lakeville, Mass.) drew a walk on four pitches to knock in Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.).
• The visitors added one run in the seventh to push their lead to 10-3. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) clobbered her second home run of the season to lead off the inning.
  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) finished with three hits, three runs scored, one RBI, and a stolen base.
• Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) notched three hits, three RBIs, and a pair of runs scored.
• Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) collected three base knocks, two RBIs, and one run scored.
• Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) posted two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
• Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) pitched her fifth complete game of the season and fanned five batters.

GAME TWO
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 13, Lesley 3
Records: Lions (7-9, 2-0 NECC) | Lynx (1-11, 0-2 NECC)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Nazarene raced out to a 5-0 lead with five runs in the top of the first inning. Caoimhe Wernsing (Brockton, Mass.) raked a double to score Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) before Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) landed a single to knock in Caoimhe Wernsing (Brockton, Mass.). Mackenzie Murray (Lakeville, Mass.) roped a bases-clearing double to drive in Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho), Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.), and Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.).
• Lesley responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to trim the gap to 5-2.
• The Lions regained a five-run advantage with two scores in the second, 7-2. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) slapped a two-out double to plate Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) and Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.).
• Eastern Nazarene tacked on three runs in the third to widen the margin to 10-2. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) crushed her second home run of the day, a three-run blast to score Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Conn.) and Mackenzie Murray (Lakeville, Mass.).
• The visitors stretched their lead to 12-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) collected her fourth RBI of the contest with a base knock to drive in Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) from second base. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) crossed the dish as Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) reached on a defensive error.
• The Lions chalked up one run in the fifth to extend their advantage to 13-2. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) notched her team-leading 24th RBI of the season with a single to plate Daitriana Gongora (Bridgeport, Conn.).
• Lesley managed one run in the home half of the fifth as Eastern Nazarene wrapped up its third win in a row.
  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) racked up four RBIs, three hits, and two runs scored.
• Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) posted three RBIs, two base hits, two runs scored, and one stolen base.
• Mackenzie Murray (Lakeville, Mass.) drove in three RBIs to go with one hit and one run scored.
• Morgan Bruner (Litchfield, N.H.) spun her third complete game and recorded four strikeouts.

UP NEXT:

Eastern Nazarene hosts Simmons March 29 in the first home games of the spring.