WESTON, Mass. - The big offensive inning turned out to be key in both ends of Tuesday night's non-conference softball doubleheader, as Regis College used a seven-run fifth inning to win game one, 8-3, before a three-run third inning led to a 4-3 victory for Eastern Nazarene in game two at the Regis Softball Field.
Game One - Regis 8, Eastern Nazarene 3
Eastern Nazarene took the early lead on a double steal in the first inning. The Lions extended their advantage in the second inning thanks to a two-run single by Taylor Brandt that scored Alexys Giddings and Caoimhe Wernsing.
Regis started its comeback in the bottom of the second inning when Chloe Beland (Southborough, Mass.) led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an infield single by Jaylene Deslauriers (Taunton, Mass.). The Pride loaded the bases in the third inning on three walks but could not score in that frame.
The Pride remained patient at the plate to start the fifth inning as Diana Petrarca (Coventry, R.I.) and Kayla Morrill (Lynn, Mass.) drew back-to-back walks. Beland sent a single into left field to load the bases, and a Lion fielding error allowed pinch runner Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.) to score. Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.) followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in pinch runner Sarah Monahan (North Andover, Mass.) with the game-tying run.
Ciara Collins (Lynn, Mass.) came on as a pinch hitter and laced a double to left field, driving in Beland and Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.). Deslauriers followed with a single that advanced Collins to third, and then the two runners successfully executed a double steal. Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) drove in Deslauriers with a triple, and Andria Braga followed with a single that scored Burke for the seventh run of the inning.
Colby Butterfield (Gilford, N.H.) earned the complete game victory as she allowed seven hits, two walks, and three runs while striking out seven batters. Chelsea De Martini took the loss for the Lions after allowing the final five runs of the fifth inning as she replaced starter Morgan Bruner in the circle during the inning.
Beland led the Pride offensively by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Delauriers finished 2-for-2 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Brandt went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Lions, and Giddings also earned two hits in the contest.
Game Two - Eastern Nazarene 4, Regis 3
The Lions again scored one run in the top of the first inning as Brandt led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bailey Olaveson. Burke started the bottom of the first inning with an infield single, advanced to second on a Braga single, reached third on a flyout, and scored on an RBI groundout from Morrill.
Regis pulled ahead in the second inning when Collins and Zancan started with consecutive singles. With runners at second and third, Nichols drove in Collins with a single to left field and then stole second base to reestablish runners at second and third with nobody out. However, Lion pitcher Wernsing induced a lineout and back-to-back popouts to end the Pride scoring threat.
The Lions loaded the bases with one out in the third inning thanks to three singles, and then Ashley Caldwell drove in Olaveson with a single to left field to tie the game at 2-2. Daitriana Gongora drew a bases loaded walk to bring home Darcy Castro with the go-ahead run, and a groundball by Mackenzie Murray allowed Giddings to score the fourth run of the game for Eastern Nazarene.
In the bottom of the fifth, Braga and Petrarca led off with consecutive singles, and Beland was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. An RBI groundout to shortstop by Collins allowed Braga to score, but Wernsing again stopped the Pride scoring opportunity, this time by forcing an inning-ending groundout.
The Pride tried to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh as Petrarca notched a one-out infield single. However, Wernsing took matters into her own hands, catching a pop-up and cleanly fielding a ground ball to end the game in the Lions' favor.
Wernsing earned her first victory of the season, scattering nine hits, all singles, during the complete game win. In addition, she was one of four Lions to collect two hits during the game. Petrarca took the loss after allowing 12 hits, three walks, and four runs in seven innings, but she did go 3-for-4 at the plate.
Regis (5-11) heads to Paxton, Mass., for a doubleheader against Anna Maria College Thursday, April 6, starting at 3 p.m. Eastern Nazarene (10-12) hosts New England College in an NECC doubleheader Saturday, April 8, beginning at 4 p.m. at Winchester High School in Winchester, Mass.