SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Western New England College softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Eastern Nazarene taking the opener 14-4 in five innings before bowing 4-2 in the second contest.
Junior right fielder Christina Farese (Marlborough, CT) had two hits, including a three-run homer (her first of the season) that highlighted a six-run first inning.
Freshman third base player Sarah Lempicki (Southington, CT) added a single, double, run scored, and three runs-batted-in.
Junior second base player Kate Post (Bridgewater, MA), sophomore leftfielder Erin Griffin (Lowell, MA), and freshman designated player Rachel Wyrwa (Methuen, MA) each contributed a pair of hits.
Senior Laura Bower (Hudson, MA) pitched the first four innings giving up three runs and four hits with nine strikeouts and three walks in raising her record to 10-5.
Sophomore second base player Jacqueline Tierney (Taunton, MA) had a single, double, and scored twice for the Crusaders.
Sophomore centerfielder Amber Buns (Fall River, MA) also collected a pair of hits while senior catcher Janna Fernandes (Taunton, MA) walked twice, hit a sacrifice fly, and had two RBI.
In the second game, senior Rebekah Sorensen (Quincy, MA) (9-6) scattered nine hits allowing one earned run with three strikeouts and three walks.
Sophomore right fielder Laura Gilberson (Hingham, MA) had three hits with a run scored and stolen base.
The Crusaders finished with 12 hits with senior first base player Hannah Rauchfuss (Elmont, NY) and senior catcher Jami Swedick (Averill Park, NY) each contributing two singles.
Burns hit her team best seventh homer of the season to give the visitors their final run in the seventh and made a nice catch in deep center in front of the fence with a runner on base to end the game.
For Western New England College, junior centerfielder Lauren Arsenault (Fitchburg, MA) had two hits, stolen base, and RBI.
Sophomore first base player Trish Breault (Millville, MA) and sophomore left fielder Mallory Householder (Ellington, CT) each chipped-in with two hits.
Lempicki (6-4) was the losing pitcher.
Western New England College is now 24-11 overall and 15-5 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC)>
Eastern Nazarene has a 16-18 record, including a 12-12 conference mark.
