FORT MYERS, FL – Nazareth overcame a 9-4 game one loss to Kenyon (Illinois) with an 8-3 triumph against Rockford (Illinois) in its second contest. The Golden Flyers erupted for six runs in the fifth inning against Rockford to seize control of the game.
Nazareth moves to 3-1 on the season, while Kenyon moves to 2-2 and Rockford drops to 0-4.
Game 1: Kenyon 9, Nazareth 4
Kenyon had live bats from the start, totaling 12 hits against Rachel Mertens. The Golden Flyers managed seven of their own but were plagued by leaving runners on base, totaling seven in the game.
Trailing 7-0 after the top half of the fifth inning, Nazareth was finally able to break through. Sarah Papponetti, who was 3-for-4 in the game, started things off with a single. Three batters later, Stephanie Mongelli delivered a two out single to score Papponetti from second. Carly Pike later scored on a wild pitch.
After the Lords added one more in the sixth, Papponetti notched a two RBI triple to left field, pushing Morgan Ross and Meghan Barry home.
Mertens went the distance on the mound, allowing nine runs, while striking out two batters.
Game 2: Nazareth 8, Rockford 3Freshman
Annika Guiliano recorded her first collegiate hit in the third inning, eventually being driven in by Ross to even the score at 1-1.
After the Regents registered two runs in the bottom half of the fourth, Nazareth's bats came alive. With the bases loaded, Papponetti came through with a two RBI double. Later in the inning, Pike matched Papponetti with a two RBI double of her own.
Maureen Rogers and Mertens each tallied an RBI in the inning as well.
Nazareth added one more insurance run in the seventh inning. Rogers connected for a triple, only to be brought in by Pike the very next batter.
Nicole White earned her second win of the season, allowing five hits and one earned run. She also had four strikeouts.
Mertens finished the game 3-for-4 with one RBI. Pike drove in three runs on 2-for-4 from the plate.
Rogers, Guiliano and Ross each had two hits of their own.
Nazareth returns to action on Tuesday when it will play Clark (Mass.) at 9 a.m. and Swarthmore (Pa.) at 11 a.m.
