Lions take two from AMCATS on Friday

Quincy, Mass.—The Eastern Nazarene softball team collected a pair of crucial wins in The Commonwealth Coast Conference Playoff race Friday afternoon as the Lady Lions defeated the AMCATS of Anna Maria 6-4 in the opener before taking game two, 10-6. The pair of wins moves Eastern Nazarene to 10-8 in conference and 12-16 overall. The AMCATS drop to 14-16 on the year and 7-11 in TCCC play.

Game One

Anna Maria struck first in the opener as Jill Hurley singled to lead off the second inning. After a Tabitha Ruggeri sacrifice bunt moved Hurley into scoring position. Dominique Marchand followed with a single to put runners on the corners with just one out. Kayla Cummings came through with a single to score Hurley and put the AMCATS ahead 1-0.

Eastern Nazarene's aggressive offense reeked havoc in the home half of the second as the Lions scored 5 runs on just three hits. The Lions' scoring was capped by a two run homer over Mitchell McCoy's  30-foot tall left field fence to put Eastern Nazarene ahead 5-1. 

In the top of the fourth, Anna Maria fought back into the game plating two runs on three hits. Mary Moroski and Hurley led off with back to back singles before Ruggeri walked to load the bases. After two straight outs, Samantha Putis singled home bothe Hurley and Ruggeri to cut the Eastern Nazarene lead to 5-3.

The Lady Lions immediately responded and reclaimed one of the runs surrendered in the top of the fourth in the home half of the inning. Greenfield again came through in the clutch driving home Julianne Atwater with a two out single.

The AMCATS picked up a run in the final inning on a Moroski home run but Eastern Nazarene pitcher was able to retire Hurley for the final out.

Block picked up her second win in as many days she scattered nine hits and four earned runs while striking out four in the circle for the Lions.

Nicole Hackenson threw all six innings for Anna Maria allowing seven hits and six runs, but only one earned run. Hackenson issued two walks and struck out three.

Greenfield finished game one 2 for 3 with three runs batted in and a run scored for Eastern Nazarene.

Lions' freshman Samantha Losano picked up two hits and an RBI for the Lady Lions. Losano also scored a run.

Three AMCATS had multiple hits in the game one defeat. Putis led the way with two hits and two RBI while Moroski and Hurley each added two hits. Hurley also scored twice for Anna Maria.