Top-Seeded Softball Claims Third NECC Crown, Defeats New England College 8-0 Sunday

REVERE, Mass.- The top-seeded Eastern Nazarene College softball team collected an 8-0 victory over No. 3 seed New England College Sunday to clinch its third New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) championship in four years. The Lions will make their third trip to the NCAA Tournament and will learn its first round destination when the NCAA Tournament Selection Show airs May 15.

THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 8, New England College 0
Records: Lions (22-19) | Pilgrims (18-22)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Eastern Nazarene generated three runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab a 3-0 lead. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) tagged up and scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.). Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) raked a single to centerfield to drive in Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) and Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.).
• The Lions manufactured five runs in the fourth to extend their advantage to 8-0. Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) slapped a single to left field to plate Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.). Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) picked up her second RBI of the game with an infield hit to knock in Caoimhe Wernsing (Brockton, Mass.). After Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) crossed the dish on a wild pitch, Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) roped a double to right-centerfield to drive in Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) and Madison Murray (Lakeville, Mass.).

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) notched two hits and two runs scored.
• Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho), Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.), and Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) all posted two RBIs and one base hit.
• Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) collected one hit, one RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base.
• Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) twirled a one-hit shutout in the pitcher's circle and finished with three strikeouts. After surrendering a hit to the leadoff batter, Munoz retired 15 of the next 17 batters.

NECC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
MVP: Jennelle Munoz - Eastern Nazarene
Taylor Brandt - Eastern Nazarene
Alexys Giddings - Eastern Nazarene
Mahlia Medina - Lesley
Jess O'Neill - Lesley
Hannah Lemke - Mitchell
Emily Reynolds - Mitchell
Ashley Lemay - New England College
Grace Giesler - New England College
Destiny Helmedach - New England College