Nazareth College Athletics

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ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Visiting Nazareth was able to salvage a split of an Empire 8 Conference softball doubleheader Saturday as the Golden Flyers withstood a three-run seventh-inning rally by Elmira to win the second game 6-5. In the first game, Nazareth staged a late rally of its own with three runs in the top of the seventh inning, only to have the Soaring Eagles score the winning run in the bottom half of the inning for a 6-5 victory.

Nazareth finished the day at 8-12 overall and 1-5 in the Empire 8. Elmira is 4-7 overall and 2-6 in conference action. The Golden Flyers are on the road again Sunday for a doubleheader at Stevens, starting at 1 p.m.

Game 1 - Elmira 6, Nazareth 5
Despite plating three runs in the seventh to even the score at five apiece, Nazareth was unable to hold Elmira off in the bottom half to force extra innings. Sarah Garner had a walk-off single to seal the win for the Soaring Eagles.       

Trailing 5-2 in the seventh, Nazareth rallied to score three runs and even the score at 5-5.   The first four batters for Nazareth got on base to put the pressure on the home team.  Stephanie Mongelli singled to score Marissa Drees.

With bases loaded, Simmons picked up an RBI to make it 5-4.  The next batter, Katherine Ruoff successfully evened the score at 5-5, scoring Mackenzie Kapp.  Gabriella Corasaniti was unable to bring Madison Joseph in from third for the go-ahead run. 

A two-out single in the first by Cassie Hill gave Elmira a 2-0 lead to open the scoring.

Trailing 3-0 in the fifth, Nazareth was able to manufacture its first runs of the game.  Janelle Walters recorded an infield single and Drees reached the next batter off an error.  Senior Marissa Tortora then did her job with a single to the left side to score Walters. 

Mongelli recorded the other RBI in the frame. She was 2-for-4 with two RBI in the game.   Tortora and Drees were also 2-for-4. Elmira picked up two more insurance runs in the sixth, including one off an RBI double. Corasaniti allowed six runs on 11 hits to drop to 3-6 on the year.

Game 2 - Nazareth 6, Elmira 5
The Golden Flyers knocked out 11 hits, including three each for Walters and Mongelli, to salvage a split and gain their first conference win of the season.

Nazareth led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but Elmira scored three times and had the tying run at second base before Nazareth's Kylie Smith was able to retire Sarah Garner on a fly to center field to end the game.

Nazareth took the early lead with a pair of unearned runs in the first inning. Walters scored the first run after Tortora reach on an infield error. Tortora later scored on a single by Kristen Simmons.

After Elmira tied the score with single runs in the first and third innings, Nazareth went ahead for good with two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Mongelli reached on a one-out single and advanced to third on a double by Madison Joseph. Both runners scored on a single by Ruoff.

In the sixth, Walters doubled with one out and scored one out later on a double by Tortora. Mongelli then plated Tortora on a single to center.

Smith pitched well for the Golden Flyers as she allowed just one earned run over seven innings and striking out three for her fourth win.