Softball makes it 18 wins in-a-row after Eastern Nazarene sweep

Quincy, Mass. – The Endicott softball team will carry much needed momentum into a crucial four-game stretch against TCCC rivals University of New England and Western New England after improving their win-streak to 18 games following a sweep of Eastern Nazarene.

Endicott (27-5, 19-1 TCCC) defeated Eastern Nazarene (12-20, 10-12 TCCC) 11-2 and 11-1 (6 inn.) in the late-season league match up. 

Boxscore

The Gulls scored in six of the seven innings against the Lions while senior pitcher Jenna Bortolotti (Milford, Mass.) allowed just two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out nine batters en route to her 12^th victory of the season.

Senior outfielder Ashley Wright (Merrimack, N.H.) cranked two hits including her third home run of the season. Wright knocked in four runs and crossed the plate twice herself. Catcher Krista Fales (Melrose, Mass.) went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base. 

Freshman Jennie Lacolla (Stoneham, Mass.) crushed her sixth long ball of the season, a solo shot in the first inning to make the score 1-0 Endicott. Lacolla finished the day 1-for-2 with a RBI, two runs scored while adding two more walks to increase her team-high to 24. 

Also recording multi-hit days were senior outfielder Hayley Hovhanessian (Farmington, Conn.) who went 2-for-4 at the dish with two runs scored and freshman second baseman Jesse Bilafer (Concord, Mass.) who also went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Hovhanessian swiped two bags in game one, her fifth and sixth stolen bases of the season while Bilafer took the first of two stolen bases on the day in game one.

Jocelyn Russo (Middletown, Conn.) scored twice and Mattie Brett (Waterford, Conn.) continued her solid rookie campaign with another two RBI. 

Eastern Nazarene scored their two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run homerun by freshman Taylor Fleming (Upland, Ind.) that scored shortstop Bethany Greenfield (Parsippany, N.J.). 

Boxscore

Jennie Lacolla recorded a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate and freshmen infielders Mattie Brett and Jesse Bilafer knocked in two runs each to lead the Gulls to a game two win over Eastern Nazarene.

Lacolla crossed the plate three times with a RBI while Bilafer had possibly her best day at the plate all season long, going 3-for-4 with two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. For Bilafer, it was his fourth straight game with at least two hits. 

Krista Fales, Byrne Katz (Trumbull, Conn.) and Jocelyn Russo each hit doubles in the game.

In the circle, sophomore Kayla Carignan (Laconia, N.H.) improved to a perfect 7-0 after striking out four batters in the game while allowing one run on seven hits and a walk.

Endicott hosts the third ranked team in the TCCC, University of New England, tomorrow at 3:00 pm at the Endicott Softball Complex.