Softball Splits Opening Day Games Saturday; Roll Earns First Coaching Win

CLERMONT, Fla- The Eastern Nazarene College softball team started the 2022 campaign with an 11-2 loss to Swarthmore followed by a 13-3 victory over Cornell College Saturday afternoon at the PFX Spring Games.

The Lions progress to 1-1 on the year with the results while the Garnet improved to 1-1 overall and the Rams dropped to 0-6 overall.

Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) racked up three hits, three RBIs, and one run scored on the day. Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) posted three base knocks, three runs scored, and a pair of RBIs. Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) collected two hits, two RBIs, and scored one run. Ashley Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) and Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) both recorded two base knocks, two runs scored, and one RBI on the afternoon.

In the opening tilt of the season, Eastern Nazarene fell 11-2 to Swarthmore.

The Garnet generated a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to go ahead 2-0. Gwen Glatz crossed the dish on an RBI groundout by Alexandra Simon. Olivia McClammy followed with a double to drive in Laura Hirai.

The Lions responded with a run in the home half of the first to cut the deficit to 2-1. Brandt scored from second as Adams reached on an error.

Swarthmore chalked up six runs in the third to widen the gap to 8-1. Hirai laced a triple to knock in Glatz before scoring as Simon reached on an error. McClammy launched her first home run of the spring to drive in Simon. With two outs in the inning, Flannery McFadden tripled to score Brooke Coneeny.

Eastern Nazarene tallied a run in the bottom of the third frame to trim the margin to 8-2. Olaveson roped an RBI single to plate Caldwell from third base.

The Garnet added three runs in the fourth inning to extend its advantage to 11-2. McClammy belted her second homer of the game, a two-run home run blast to drive in Simon and Grace Taylor landed a base knock to score Coneeny.

Munoz pitched a complete game and finished with six strikeouts.

In their second game of the day, the Lions topped Cornell College 13-3 to notch head coach Claire Roll's her first collegiate career victory.

The Rams snagged an early 1-0 edge with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Claire Gugerty singled to right field to knock in Addie Bowman from third base.

Eastern Nazarene erupted for seven runs in the top of the second to claim a 7-1 advantage. Munoz and Caldwell raked back-to-back singles to drive in Adams and Kiley Ozaki (Ewa Beach, Hawaii). Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) followed with an RBI fielder's choice to score Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.). Munoz scurried home from third on an RBI groundout by Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.). Brandt, Olaveson, and Adams all followed with RBI doubles as Giddings, Brandt, and Olaveson crossed the dish.

Cornell answered with a pair of scores in the home half of the second frame to narrow the gap to 7-3. Caitlin Babcock doubled to centerfield to plate Olivia Richards and scored on a base knock by Bowman.

The Lions chalked up five runs in the third inning to widen the margin to 12-3. Schwenger laced a single to right field to drive in Castro before Brandt and Olaveson drew bases-loaded walks to plate Munoz and Caldwell. Schwenger and Brandt both scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Adams.

Eastern Nazarene tacked on a run in the fourth to grab a double-digit lead, 13-3. Giddings lasered a base hit to centerfield to knock in Castro from second base.

Munoz tossed two innings and registered two strikeouts in her second start of the afternoon. Chelsea De Martini (Budd Lake, N.J.) threw three scoreless innings in her first relief appearance.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will battle Emmanuel and Bethany Lutheran March 6 at the PFX Spring Games.