Softball Unable to Complete Comeback Against Eastern Nazarene

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College was defeated, 8-0 and 6-4, in Thursday's non-conference softball doubleheader against Eastern Nazarene College at Regis Softball Field.

GAME ONE: EASTERN NAZARENE 8, REGIS 0

Errors cost the Pride in the top of the first inning when a misplayed ball in the outfield prevented the end of the inning, resulting in Eastern Nazarene taking a 2-0 lead. The Lions added two runs to their lead in the third inning, with RBIs coming from a Kiley Ozaki single and an Aurora Adams double.

The visitors struck again in the fifth inning, capitalizing on another Regis error to score three runs on four hits for a 7-0 advantage. Adams earned her third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field in the sixth inning to cap off the scoring for both teams.

The Pride made a final push in the bottom of the sixth with Andria Braga (Rehoboth, Mass.), Chloe Beland (Southborough, Mass.), and Alex Page (New Boston, N.H.) each singling to load the bases, but they were ultimately left stranded as Regis was unable to score.

Jilian Glynn (Londonderry, N.H.) started for the Pride, allowing four earned runs while striking out three batters. Eastern Nazarene pitcher Chelsea De Martini earned the shutout victory, striking out one Regis batter.

GAME TWO: EASTERN NAZARENE 6, REGIS 4

Game two began similarly to the first with Eastern Nazarene taking an early lead over the Pride, holding a 3-0 advantage after two innings with RBIs by Ozaki, Alex Schwenger, and Bailey Olaveson.

Taylor Brandt added to the Lions' lead with an RBI double in the top of the fourth while the fifth inning saw the Eastern Nazarene lead increase to 6-0 when Danielle Maliszewski and Daitriana Gongora drew in two additional runs.

The Regis offense came alive in the fifth inning, starting with a leadoff single to centerfield by pinch-hitter Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.). Later in the inning, Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) and Abby Erickson (Worcester, Mass.) would also single to load the bases for Braga who drove the ball to left field, scoring a run for the Pride.

On the ensuing at-bat, Kayla Morrill (Lynn, Mass.) reached first on an error by the shortstop to drive in a second run for Regis. Erin Murphy (Bedford, N.H.) then drew a walk to score a third run and a wild pitch on the next at-bat brought in another run for the home team, prompting a pitching change for Eastern Nazarene.

Regis threatened in the bottom of the seventh when Sarah Fawcett (Londonderry, N.H.) hit a deep single off the wall in right-center field and Sarah Monahan (North Andover, Mass.) singled to right field to put runners on first and second. With two outs and the go-ahead run at the plate, Eastern Nazarene made a pitching change, placing Jennelle Munoz in the circle. Munoz threw only one pitch resulting in a ground ball straight back to her to record the final out of the game and earn the save.

Sofia Vitale (Winthrop, Mass.) made the start for the Pride pitching only two innings with Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.) coming on in relief at the start of the third inning and pitching for the remainder of the contest.

Regis College (9-17) travels to West Hartford, Conn. to take on the University of Saint Joseph in a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 23, beginning at 12 p.m. Eastern Nazarene College hosts Lesley on the same day with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.