QUINCY, Mass. – In the home-opener for the Crusader softball team, the visiting Hawks of Roger Williams took both games at ENC's home field, McCoy-Mitchell Field in Quincy, Mass by scores of 6-0 and 10-1.
The Hawks took game one with a score of 6-0. Senior Rebekah Sorenson (Quincy, MA) pitched five plus innings giving up only three runs and striking out four batters. The game was locked at zeros until the Hawks scored their first run in the third inning on a base hit to left. The Crusaders threatened to score in the fourth when sophomore Laura Giberson (Hingham, MA) got a one out base hit. Giberson advanced to second base on a passed ball and to third on a ground out. However, the Crusaders could not drive her home.
In the sixth inning, freshman Hannah Moore(Sheridan, CA) entered the game to pitch, inheriting the bases loaded with no outs. Senior Hannah Rauchfuss(Elmont, NY) made an outstanding over-the-shoulder catch at first base to keep the home team in the game. Moore would then record a strikeout and get a Hawk batter to ground out. Moore got out of the bases loaded no-out jam only surrendering two runs.
The Hawks then added three more runs in the seventh and went on to win game one by a score of 6-0.
Hannah Pirez (Bolton, Mass.) led the Hawks with 2 singles and 2 runs scored.
Sophomore Bethany Greenfield (Parsippany, NJ), Giberson, Rauchfuss and senior Brittany Hardie-Jones (Joppatowne,MD) all had a hit for the Crusaders. Moore finished the game with three strikeouts.
In game 2, the Crusaders could not prevent the Hawks from scoring. RWU scored in the first inning on an Erica Castro (Medford, NY) single to left. The Hawks also scored in the third inning on a Samantha Teves (Somerset, MA) double.
In the fourth inning, Laura Giberson hit a one out single. Sophomore Jackie Tierney (Taunton, MA) followed Giberson with a single of her own, advancing Giberson to second. Giberson and Tierney would each advance to third and second respectively on a ground out. Giberson then got the home team on the scoreboard with a heads-up running play and Tierney also advanced to third. However, the Crusaders could not drive in another run.
The Hawks pressured hard in the fifth inning, piling on seven runs. The Hawks went on to win the contest 10-1. Castro went 3 for 4 with two RBIs while Michelle Caprice (Oak Ridge, NJ) collected 2 singles, a sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate twice for the Hawks
Giberson, Tierney, seniors Janna Fernandes (Taunton, MA) and Brittany Hardie-Jones all went 1 for 2 from the dish for Eastern Nazarene. Senior Rachel Sorenson (Quincy, MA) pitched five innings for the Crusaders.
With the sweep, Roger Williams improves to 8-4 overall and 2-0 in TCCC play. Eastern Nazarene moves to 4-8 overall and 0-2 in the TCCC. The Hawks return to action on Mar. 26 against Fitchburg State. The Crusaders resume play on Mar. 28 versus conference foe Nichols College at 12pm.
Contributing Writer, Rob Rossi Jr.
- Release courtesy of the Eastern Nazarene College Sports Information Department
