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Eastern Nazarene College Athletics
Softball Draws No. 17 Rochester in NCAA Tournament at Lebanon Valley College
May 15, 2023

Softball Draws No. 17 Rochester in NCAA Tournament at Lebanon Valley College

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.- After claiming its third New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) crown, the Eastern Nazarene College softball team secured its third NCAA Tournament berth. The Lions drew No. 17 Rochester in the opening contest played at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania.

Eastern Nazarene boasts a 22-19 overall record and finished the regular season with a 9-3 mark in conference action. The Lions are riding a season-long five game winning-streak heading into the NCAA Tournament.

Senior Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) was named the NECC Co-Player of the Year to headline the Lions' five All-NECC selections. Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.), Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho), Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.), and Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) joined Brandt on the All-NECC Team.

Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) collected her second NECC Tournament MVP honor after pitching three complete games while striking out 12 batters and allowing just three earned runs. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) and Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) also garnered NECC All-Tournament accolades.

Collectively, Eastern Nazarene ranks 12th in NCAA Division III with 29 home runs on the season. Individually, Taylor Brandt ranks 15th in NCAA Division III with 63 base knocks this spring.

Rochester is making its 10th all-time trip to the NCAA Tournament after capturing the Liberty League title for the third straight year. The Yellow Jackets are 36-7 on the season and ranked No. 17 in the latest NFCA National Poll and No. 1 in Region III in the most recent NCAA Regional Rankings.

Eastern Connecticut State and Lebanon Valley round out the four-team pod. Eastern Connecticut State is ranked No. 24 in the NFCA National Poll with a 28-10 overall record while Lebanon Valley owns a 32-9 mark on the spring.

Eastern Nazarene has never met Rochester, Eastern Connecticut State, or Lebanon Valley on the diamond in program history. The Lions sport a 1-4 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play.