QUINCY, Mass. – The Eastern Nazarene Lions earned a pair of victories on Saturday afternoon over the Becker Hawks, using two walk-off singles to score the wins in New England Collegiate Conference play.
THE BASICS
April 3, 2021
Mitchell/McCoy Field
Becker Hawks 5-7 (1-3 NECC)
Eastern Nazarene Lions 7-1 (3-1 NECC)
GAME ONE: Eastern Nazarene 11 – Becker 10 (Final/8 Innings)
After the Hawks scored in the top of the eighth on an error by the Lions to take a 10-9 lead, ENC managed to finally close the door on the Hawks with two runs in the bottom of the inning to win 11-10.
An RBI double to right-center field by sophomore Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.) tied things at 10-10. After Schwenger advanced to third base on a groundout, junior Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) provided the walk-off single to left field and the extra-innings win.
The Lions trailed 9-7 entering the bottom of the seventh when ENC managed to tie the game and force extra innings with a two-run home run by Adams.
Becker scored five times in the top of the seventh to hop out to a 9-7 edge, their first lead of the game.
The Hawks loaded the bases with no outs and began the scoring with a two-run double by senior Sarah Ellis (Berkley, Mass.) to cut the deficit to 7-6. Two batters later, junior Emily Iacovelli (Northbridge, Mass.) came through with a two-run double of her own to give Becker an 8-7 lead. An RBI single by freshman Sheree Fallon (Danvers, Mass.) capped off the top of the seventh, as the Hawks took a two-run lead.
The Hawks used a four-run rally in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 4-4. Sophomore Holly Letourneau (Woonsocket, R.I.) and freshman Jillana Stevens (Farmington, N.H.) both had RBI singles to cut the deficit. Later in the inning, an infield error allowed two Hawks to score, tying the game 4-4.
After surrendering a four-run advantage in the top of the sixth, the Lions regained the lead in the bottom of the inning with the help of a pair of sacrifice flies. A wild pitch later in the sixth would add another run for a 7-4 lead.
Home runs by Lions senior Adriana Montuya (American Canyon, Calif.) and sophomore Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) helped in giving ENC a 3-0 lead early in the game.
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For Eastern Nazarene, Adams finished 2-for-5 with three RBI. Sophomore Taylor Brandt (Nap, Calif.) went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
For Becker, Ellis batted 2-for-5 with two RBI. Junior Elizabeth Simonian (Auburn, Mass.) also finished 2-for-5 while freshman Kayla Dell'Anno (Medford, Mass.) went 2-for-4. All three Hawks had a double in the game.
Winning Pitcher: Chelsea De Martini (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Ashley Veillette (2-3)
GAME TWO: Eastern Nazarene 4 – Becker 3
Another walk-off for the Lions helped them in the Saturday sweep of the Hawks, winning game two by the score of 4-3.
The bottom of the seventh started with Lions senior Rebecca Hayner (Halfmoon, N.Y.) reaching second base on a fielding error by the Hawks.
After an infield pop out by Schwenger for the first out, Lions sophomore Darcy Castro (Garden Grove, Calif.) singled to left-field, scoring Hayner from second base, as the Lions scored their second walk-off win of the day.
The Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the game thanks to a second-inning, double-steal, that gave Becker a 1-0 lead.
In the next inning, an RBI single by Ellis and an RBI fielder's choice by Iacovelli would give the Hawks a 3-0 edge.
The Lions answered back in the bottom of the third with their own double-steal to cut the deficit to 3-1. Later in the inning, Adams hit a solo home run to left field, leaving the Lions down 3-2.
But ENC tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with the help of another solo home run, this time off the bat of Olaveson, also to left field, for a 3-3 tie.
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For Eastern Nazarene, Adams and freshman Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) both batted 2-for-3; Adams with a home run and Munoz with a double.
For Becker, Ellis batted 3-for-4, all singles with an RBI. Veillette went 2-for-4 in game two. All 10 hits for the Hawks were singles.
Winning Pitcher: Jennelle Munoz (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Lindsay Mitchell (3-3)
