Softball Splits Twinbill with Eastern Nazarene

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Eastern Nazarene College on Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Park.

The visiting Lions (17-19) won the opener, 11-4, while the Bears (10-25-1) earned the split with a darkness-shorted 8-6 victory in six innings in game two.

Game One: Eastern Nazarene 11, Bridgewater State 4

Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) went 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs batted in to lead Eastern Nazarene to the 11-4 win in game one.

The Lions capitalized on a two-base throwing error to push across an unearned run in the top of the first inning.

The Bears answered in the home half of the first as Kerrin McLaughlin (Haverhill, Mass.) walked with one out, advanced to second on a ground out and came around to score the tying run on a two-out RBI single by Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.).

A pair of clutch two-out RBI base knocks by Yaya Bowden (Danbury, Conn.) and Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) in the top of third gave the visitors a 4-1 lead. All three runs in the frame were unearned.

Back-to-back two-out, two-run singles by Danielle Maliszewski (Torrington, Conn.) and Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) in the top of the fifth extended the ENC lead to 8-1.

The Bears answered with three runs in the home half of the fifth. Amelia Blake (Raynham, Mass.) connected for an RBI double and scored on an RBI single by Madison Dana (Lynn, Mass.). Pinch runner Victoria Becker (Abington, Mass.) scored the third run of the frame as a result of an Eastern Nazarene error.

Olaveson belted her team-leading eighth home run of the season to lead off the sixth inning and give the Lions a 9-4 lead.

ENC tacked on two more unearned runs in the seventh on a Caoimhe Wernsing (Brockton, Mass.) sacrifice fly and an Olaveson RBI single.

Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) went the distance in the circle for Eastern Nazarene to earn her ninth win of the season. Munoz (9-7) allowed four runs (three earned) on 11 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) gave up eight runs (four earned) on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in the setback for the Bears. Klingel (3-12) walked two and fanned three. She also hit a batter.

The Bears committed five errors in the opener which led to six unearned runs.

Both teams finished with 11 hits in game one. The Lions left eight runners on base while the Bears stranded nine.

Munoz also finished with multiple hits for ENC as she went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs. Schwenger reached safely three times as she singled and walked twice, scored two runs, and knocked in two.

Jolly (2-4, RBI) and Dana (2-4, RBI) notched two hits apiece to pace the BSU offense.

Game Two: Bridgewater State 8, Eastern Nazarene 6 (6 Inn.)

The Bears rallied from a three-run deficit to post the 8-6 win in game two and earn the split.

Ava Novakoski (Auburn, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI to lead the way for Bridgewater State. Novakoski connected for the game-tying single in the fourth inning and knocked in the go ahead run in the sixth.

The Bears opened the scoring with three unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning. Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.) walked with the bases loaded and McLaughlin followed with a two-run single to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.

The Lions answered with a five-run third inning highlighted by a two-run homer from Brandt. Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) added an RBI single in the frame while Daitriana Gongora (Bridgeport, Conn.) rapped a two-run single.

An RBI single by Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) in the top of the fourth gave the visitors a 6-3 lead.

The Bears responded in the home half of the fourth as consecutive RBI singles by Blake, Dana and Novakoski knitted the score at 6-6.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth inning. Jolly led off the frame with a walk and moved to second on a ground out. After Emily Eastman was hit by a pitch, Novakoski lined a base hit up the middle to plate Jolly with the go ahead run. Following a fielder's choice ground out, Kailey Collins-Fiore () ripped an RBI single through the right side to account for the final score of 8-6.

With darkness descending on Alumni Park, the umpires put a halt to the action before the first pitch of the seventh inning.

Laura Hatch (Middleboro, Mass.) picked up the win in relief for the Bears. Hatch (1-0) allowed just one hit over 2 1/3 innings with no walks and two strikeouts as she picked up her first win in nearly a year. McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.) got the start for the hosts and gave up six runs (three earned) on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of work.

Morgan Bruner (Litchfield, N.H.) was saddled with the loss for the Lions in the complete game effort. Bruner (2-5) allowed eight runs on 11 hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts. She also hit a batter. Six of the eight runs were unearned due to three costly ENC errors.

Novakoski, Marcotte (2-2, BB, R, RBI) and Dana (2-3, RBI) each recorded multiple hits to pace the Bears' 11-hit attack.

Maliszewski went 2-for-3 and scored a run as she was the only Lion with multiple hits in game two.

Up Next: Both teams are back in action on Saturday afternoon. The Bears travel to Worcester State University for a noontime MASCAC twibill with the Lancers, while the Lions host a doubleheader with NECC foe Mitchell College starting at one.