Eastern Nazarene Escapes with Non-Conference Sweep over Softball

NEWTON, Mass. (4/13/17) – The Lasell softball team lost two hard fought battles to Eastern Nazarene in a non-conference twinbill Thursday at Taylor Field. Lasell dropped the first contest in extra innings, 10-7, and fell to the Lions in game two, 6-4.

The Lasers slide to 4-18 overall, while the Lions improve to 14-11 on the year.

Nicole Arcese (Holliston, Mass.) led the Lasers on the bats with five hits on the afternoon, including two doubles and a triple. Arcese additionally drove in two runners throughout the twinbill, while fellow freshman Esther Plouffe (North Scituate, R.I.) drove home three. Plouffe swung into a double in the latter half of the doubleheader, joining Ashley Gatchell (Franklin, Mass.), Mackenzie Madden (Mashpee, Mass.) and Laura MacLeod (Old Saybrook, Conn.) with runs batted in.

For the Lions, Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) recorded five hits, three RBIs, and scored three runs on the afternoon. Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) finished with three hits and one run scored in the doubleheader. Tylan Onorato (Wiscassett, Maine) drove in four RBIs, landed two base knocks, and crossed the dish three times. Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) notched a pair of hits and four runs scored while Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) added two base knocks, two RBIs, and one run.

The Lions sprung for a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to claim an early 2-0 edge. Coix crossed the dish as Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) grounded out before Bow roped double to left to drive in Clements.

Lasell cut the deficit in half with a run in the second, 2-1, when Gatchell singled to centerfield to plate Arcese from third base.

The Lasers erupted for five runs in the third to capture a 6-2 advantage. Arcese notched a pair of RBIs while Madden, Plouffe, and Gatchell all collected an RBI in the frame for the hosts.

The visitors scored twice in the fifth to pull to within two, 6-4. Coix scored her second run of the day on a single off the bat of Emily Gomez. Bow hoisted a sacrifice fly to center to allow Emily Gomez to tag up and scurry home from third.

Eastern Nazarene leveled the game at 6-6 with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Kelly Donahue (Quincy, Mass.) registered her first career RBI as she laced a single to left to plate Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.). Emily Gomez drove in her second RBI of the contest with a base knock to score Onorato.

The Lions regained the lead in the top of the eighth with four runs, 10-6. Onorato raked a double to left to drive in Heidi Gomez from second base. Emily Gomez tripled to right to knock in Onorato and Coix before crossing the dish on a wild pitch.

Lasell manufactured one run in the home half of the eighth to trim the gap to 10-7 as Bailey Burnett (Phillipston, Mass.) scored on an error.

Eastern Nazarene produced five runs in the top of the third inning in game two to establish a 5-0 lead. Bow drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Coix and get the guests on the board. Onorato poked a bases-clearing triple to right to plate Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.), Schaffer, and Bow. Onorato crossed the dish as Rachel Caswell (Utica, N.Y.) reached on an error.

Lasell answered with three scores in the home half of the third to narrow the gap to 5-3. MacLeod singled to center to knock in Victoria Spellman (Rocky Hill, Conn.) before Plouffe drove in Erin Smith (Gorham, Maine) and MacLeod with a double to left field.

The Lasers trimmed the margin to 5-4 with a run in the fifth, as Siobhan Yaple (Sheffield, Mass.) crossed the plate as Gatchell sent a single back up the middle. The Lions responded with a score in the top of the sixth to reclaim a two-run advantage, 6-4. Schaffer landed an RBI single in left to drive in Emily Gomez from second base.

The Lasers will hit the road for their next contest, a GNAC twinbill at Emmanuel College on Saturday, April 15. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.