Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 QUINCY, Mass.--The Western New England softball squad split a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader Friday at Eastern Nazarene, routing the host Lions 8-1 in the first game before seeing a rally fall short in a 4-3 loss in the second. The Golden Bears now stand at 10-12 overall and 6-4 in the CCC, while the Lions settle at 7-15 on the season and 3-9 in the conference.

In the opener, Western New England pounded out 15 hits and junior winning pitcher Lauren Zambrano (5-6) struck out eight batters in five scoreless innings of work. Sophomore Mickayla Keltos threw the last two innings, allowing just one hit and a run.

Senior tri-captain Katie Eckert paced WNE by going 3-for-4, including a run-scoring double, at the plate. Zambrano helped her own cause with two hits and two runs batted in, and junior Emily Mastropaolo matched those numbers. Junior Jocelyn Agnelli and freshman Corianna DeLisi added two hits apiece.

Abigail Moore and Cayla Clinkscale had the Lions' only hits off WNE pitching. Moore's single that brought home Carissa Cicolini in the sixth inning spoiled the shutout for the Golden Bears.

Western New England struck immediately with a run in the top of the first inning. Agnelli led off with a single, advanced to second base on a groundout, moved to third on a Zambrano single, and then scored on Mastropaolo's single to center field.

The Golden Bears added another run in the fourth before blowing it open with three in the sixth for a 5-0 cushion. Western New England sent nine batters to the plate in the latter frame, which was highlighted by Zambrano knocking in two runs.

Then in the seventh, WNE got three more runs on a Keltos RBI-single to center field, a throwing error from the outfield, and a Mastropaolo single to left field.

In the nightcap, however, the Lions were able to hold off a WNE comeback attempt for the one-run victory. Clinkscale hammered two home runs, including a three-run shot to center field in the first inning.

Trailing 4-0 after five, WNE scored three times in the sixth to put itself in a position to tie the contest or go ahead. DeLisi had a sacrifice fly and freshman Gabby Lavinio added a two-run double to center with one out, but the Golden Bears' threat ended after a strikeout and pop up.

Western New England outhit the Lions 10 to 5, led by sophomore Heather Fecteau and Lavinio with two apiece.

Western New England continues a busy weekend of CCC doubleheader action with Salve Regina on the road at 1 p.m. Saturday in Newport, R.I., and then hosting Wentworth on Sunday (noon) for Senior Day at Golden Bear Softball Park.