Softball Falls to ENC 5-4 in Extras to Open 2022 Campaign

CLERMONT, Fla. - Senior Kiley Ozaki’s (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) RBI single in the eighth inning broke a 4-4 to power Eastern Nazarene College past Emmanuel College, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon in Day 1 of The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla.

Softball Falls to ENC 5-4 in Extras to Open 2022 Campaign
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Team Stats

March 6, 2022

THE BASICS 

Score:             
Eastern Nazarene College, 5; Emmanuel College, 4
Records:         
Emmanuel College Saints (0-1, 0- GNAC)
Eastern Nazarene College Lions (21-1, 0-0 NECC)
Location:         
Clermont, Fla. – Legends Ways Field 1
Date:               
Sunday, March 6, 2022

THE LEAD:  Senior Kiley Ozaki's (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) RBI single in the eighth inning broke a 4-4 to power Eastern Nazarene College past Emmanuel College, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon in Day 1 of The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • With the score locked at 4-4 after seven, the International Tiebreaker went into effect allowing the Lions to place junior Bailey Olaveson (Lakeside, Calif.) at second base. Ozaki delivered what proved to be the game-winning RBI of a 2-1 count, shooting a single to right centerfield to plate Olaveson and pull ENC ahead, 5-4.
  • In the bottom of the eighth, EC senior Kiana Hinson reached base via a hit-by-pitch to put the winning run on base for the Saints but sophomore Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) pitched out of the jam to strand both runners to preserve the 5-4 ENC win.
  • Emmanuel led 1-0 early on with a run in the second as senior catcher Avery Webb (Hollis, N.H.) crossed the plate on a double-steal attempt, scoring before the other EC baserunner was caught in the run-down.
  • The Lions exploded for four runs in the top of the third to go ahead 4-1. Olaveson delivered a two-RBI double to right to get the scoring started. Senior Aurora Adams (Fullerton, Calif.) made it 3-1 with an RBI single to right and Olaveson came around to score the fourth run on a sac fly by Ozaki to account for a 4-1 score.
  • Emmanuel pulled even in the fifth with three runs on four hits. Junior left fielder Jadynne Hill (Haverhill, Mass.) belted a two-RBI double to right to cut the lead to 4-3 before coming around to score on an RBI infield single by senior right fielder Renae Lacroix (Cumberland, R.I.) to set the stage for the extra inning finish.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

  • Ozaki finished the game going 2-for-3 with two RBI while Ashley Caldwell () also had two hits out of the eight-hole, adding a walk to reach base safely in all three plate appearances.
  • EC sophomore shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) was the only Emmanuel player with multiple hits starting the season with a 2-for-4 showing.
  • Rookie Madison Marks (Edgewater Park, N.J.) collected a single in her first collegiate at-bat.
  • Munoz earned the win tossing eight innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits while striking out six to improve to 2-1 on the year.
  • Junior Tianna Dawe (Peabody, Mass.) suffered the loss going the distance and allowing the five runs (four earned) on eight hits, also striking out six.

UP NEXT

  • Emmanuel returns to official action tomorrow (March 7) against Ohio Northern at 3:00 PM. Due to an umpire shortage, their scheduled game later today against Plymouth State has been cancelled and will only be played as an exhibition scrimmage.