QUINCY, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team dropped a pair of contests against Eastern Nazarene College in a Commonwealth Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Leopards fell 8-3 in game one, followed by a 11-3 six-inning defeat in the nightcap.
With the two wins, Eastern Nazarene improves to 10-12 and 5-3 within conference play, while Wentworth falls to 4-11 overall and 0-4 in league play.
Game One: Eastern Nazarene 8, Wentworth 3
A sacrifice fly into center field from the bat of freshman Lauren Clements (Garrison, Texas) put Eastern Nazarene on the board first in the bottom half of the first frame. Wentworth answered in its half of the second on an RBI single by sophomore Rachel Wilcutt (Tilton, N.H.) which plated the first Leopards' run to even the game at 1-1.
Through the next two innings, Eastern Nazarene powered a six-run attack that paced them to a 7-1 lead after three.
In its home half of the second, freshman Megan Stanley's (Bedford, Mass.) double and a sacrifice fly from junior Kaitlyn Jimenez (Meriden, Conn.) to put the Lions up by two at 3-1. Wentworth threatened the following inning to cut the lead down to one with sophomore Vanessa Weymouth (Fremont, N.H.) on third, but could not capitalize.
Eastern Nazarene powered out a six-hit four run bottom of third that was highlighted by back-to-back doubles from freshman Emily Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.) and sophomore Heidi Gomez (Floral Park, N.Y.), followed by an RBI single from freshman Becky Bahr (Brentwood, N.Y.).
Wentworth answered with two more runs in the fourth to cut Eastern Nazarene's lead to four at 7-3. With one out and the bases full, the Leopards capitalized on an error committed by the left fielder as freshman Libby White (Pittsfield, Mass.) plated Wentworth's second run. Sophomore Megan Berryman (Middleboro, Mass.) followed up with a two-out single that scored Wilcutt, but the inning ended with a strikeout.
The Lions batted three hits in the bottom of the fifth, including a double from freshman Lauren Weidler (Lansdale, Pa.), who later crossed home for the game-winning single from Emily Gomez. Eastern Nazarene retired Wentworth in the top half of the seventh and took the 8-3 game one victory.
Weidler went 3.2 innings and allowed one hit and no runs while she struck out four and walked one. Heidi Gomez earned the win for the Lions and allowed three runs on two hits while she struck out four and walked on through 3.1 relief innings pitched. Emily and Heidi Gomez, along with Weidler, paced the Lions' offense and went for a combined 9-for-12 with five runs scored and four RBI.
Freshman Erica Norquist (Rutland, Mass.) was tagged for the loss and pitched six innings and allowed eight runs on 13 hits. Wilcutt, Berryman and freshman senior Karsyn Sawyer (Chatham, N.Y.) led the Leopards, going 5-for-9 with one RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored.
Game 2: Eastern Nazarene 11, Wentworth 3
Wentworth began the second game off with a bang as they racked up a three-hit first that included an RBI single down the left field line from Wilcutt to give the Leopards a 1-0 lead. However, Eastern Nazarene answered in its half of the first with three runs as the Lions took advantage of Wentworth's defensive mishaps.
A walk to Weidler loaded up the bases with one out, followed up by the Lions' first run plated on a walk to Emily Gomez to tie the game at one. After a Wentworth pitching change, freshman Payton Fry (Chandler, Ariz.) sent a fly ball out to left field that allowed Clements to score the go-ahead run that was followed up by a double into the right field gap by Heidi Gomez. In the following inning, freshman Viviana Coix (Warrenville, Ill.) singled into right field to put the Lions up 4-1 after two.
Wentworth began to chip away at Eastern Nazarene's lead in the top of the fifth. Sawyer reached on an error committed by the right fielder that allowed sophomore Haley Sabino (Topsfield, Mass.) to score Wentworth's second run. Weymouth followed with a single into left field that put the Leopards within one at 4-3.
Through the fifth and sixth innings, the Lions tacked on seven more runs on five hits, including a two RBI double ripped down the right field line by Jimenez to give the Lions the 8-3 cushion. Three consecutive singles in the bottom of the sixth was all Eastern Nazarene needed as it locked down an 11-3 win in game two.
Freshman Hayley Rutkey (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) was tagged with the loss as she gave up three runs and three walks. Norquist pitched 5.1 innings of relief and allowed eight runs (five earned) on 12 hits with one walk. Berryman led Wentworth and went 2-for-3 with one run scored.
Weidler earned the win for the Lions as she pitched six solid innings and allowed three runs on six hits and struck out two. Heidi Gomez led the Lions offense, going 3-for-4 with one run scored and three RBIs, while Fry went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored and Stanley went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.
Wentworth returns home to face Salve Regina at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, while Eastern Nazarene faces Western New England at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
