Softball Drops Two to ENC

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Eastern Nazarene College softball team completed a weekend sweep of Mitchell College, taking the final two games of the series by scores of 9-6 and 21-8 on Sunday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference play.

The Lions (13-1 overall, 7-1 NECC) pounded out 34 hits in the doubleheader, including eight for extra bases. Alex Schwenger and Rebecca Hayner each finished with seven hits on the day, and Aurora Adams, Bailey Olaveson and Taylor Brandt all swatted home runs.

Laurissa Amaker went 5-for-7 with a double and four RBI to pace the Mariners. Hannah Lemke and Maliah Pabellon also finished with five hits apiece. 

Mitchell (2-9 overall, 0-4 NECC) will next host New England College on Tuesday, April 13 at 3 p.m. ENC, which has won eight straight games, returns to action at home against the University of Saint Joseph on Thursday, April 15 at 3 p.m.

Game 1 – Eastern Nazarene 9, Mitchell 6

After falling behind by a run in the top of the first, Mitchell responded with four runs in the home half to take an early lead. Amaker and Pabellon each supplied RBI singles in the frame while Jossette Madison forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk.

Another RBI single by Amaker in the second extended Mitchell's lead to 5-1. However, the Lions responded with eight unanswered runs to take control. Six of those runs came in the third inning, which was highlighted by a three-run homer by Adams and a three-run double by Danielle Maliszewski. A solo homer by Olaveson later padded the ENC margin to 9-5 in the sixth. 

The Mariners loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but came away with only one run on a ground out by Madison. In the seventh, Mitchell brought the tying run to the plate with no outs but came up empty.

ENC reliever Jennelle Munoz yielded one run on six hits over the final 5.2 innings to improve to 6-0 on the season. Mitchell's Katelyn Lipsky took the loss, allowing nine runs on 14 hits.

Game 2 – Eastern Nazarene 21, Mitchell 8 (5 innings)

The Lions sent 16 batters to the plate and pushed across 12 runs to open the second game. Brandt's two-run homer was the finishing touch as ENC racked up a total of 10 hits in the frame. 

A two-run single by Adriana Montuya extended the lead to 15-0 in the third. Mitchell finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame thanks to a two-run double by Amaker.

ENC added four runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. In Mitchell's final turn at the plate, Pabellon connected for a three-run homer that was her first of the season. The long ball was also the first by a Mariners player at the new turf facility.

Starting pitcher Chelsea De Martini went the distance for the Lions, improving to 2-0 on the year.