Lasell Softball drops pair at Eastern Nazarene

QUINCY, Mass. – Behind a no-hitter by Elisabeth Schaffer (Benton, Pa.) and a five-hit effort by Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.), the Eastern Nazarene College softball team notched a pair of wins over Lasell College Tuesday afternoon at Mitchell/McCoy Field in the first home games of the 2018 campaign.

The Lions prevailed 7-1 and 9-0 to improve to 15-5 on the season. The Lasers fall to 4-12 overall with the results.

After getting no-hit in the first game, Lasell managed five hits in the nightcap, including two singles by freshman Sarah Walton (Poland, Maine) and a double by classmate Bethany Hector (Jaffrey, N.H.)

Weidler paced the Lions offense with five base knocks, six RBIs, and four runs scored on the day. Dominique Santos (Lancaster, Calif.) registered four hits, one RBI, and two runs. 

Lasell returns home for Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action Wednesday at Taylor Field against Johnson & Wales University (3:00 p.m.)

Game 1 – Eastern Nazarene 7, Lasell 1

The home team rolled to a 7-1 victory behind a no-hitter by Schaffer in the pitcher's circle. Schaffer finished with 11 strikeouts on the day while allowing just two walks.

Eastern Nazarene plated one run in the bottom of the first inning to grab a 1-0 edge as Schaffer scorched a single up the middle to drive in Weidler from third.

The Lions chalked up a pair of runs in the second to widen the gap to 3-0. Weidler roped a double down the left field line to score Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) all the way from first base. Weidler scurried home as Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) reached on an outfield error.

The hosts added a run in the fourth to stretch the margin to 4-0. Weidler laced a single to center to collect her second RBI of the game as Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) crossed the dish. Eastern Nazarene produced three runs in the fifth to push its advantage to 7-0. Schaffer launched her first home run of the season to leadoff the frame. Kayleen Garrick (Sparks, Nev.) sliced a base knock to right field to drive in Hayner and Haley Viscovich (Modesto, Calif.).

Lasell got on the board in the top of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 7-1. Sophomore Nicole Arcese (Holliston, Mass.) scored as freshman Alexis Truesdale (Wakefield, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice.

Game 2 – Eastern Nazarene 9, Lasell 0

The Lions seized an early 1-0 advantage with a run in the first frame. Clements raked a single down the left field line to knock in Santos. They doubled their lead to 2-0 with one run in the second. Hayner picked up her second RBI of the year with a groundout that scored Viscovich from third. Eastern Nazarene added a run in the third to widen the margin to 3-0. Coix smacked a double to left-center to plate Kori Bow (Shaftsbury, Vt.).

The Lions generated three runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 6-0. Weidler hammered a single to centerfield to drive in Jenessa Huerta (El Monte, Calif.) and Santos. Bow roped a double to the gap in left-center to knock in Weidler.

The hosts tallied a run in the fifth to push their advantage to 7-0. Santos landed an RBI single in center to plate Hayner with two outs. Eastern Nazarene scored twice in the sixth to secure the 9-0 win. After Garrick led off the frame with a base knock, Weidler belted her team-leading fifth home run of the season to give the Lions a walk-off victory.

Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) hurled her third complete game of the spring and fanned five batters.

(Courtesy of Eastern Nazarene Athletic Communications)

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