ROCHESTER, NY -- Senior Madison Joseph contributed three hits including a 2-for-2 effort in the second game of the Empire 8 doubleheader against Stevens Institute but the Ducks came away with a pair of wins taking the opener 7-2 and scoring a 10-2 win in the nightcap Saturday afternoon on Flyers Field.

Nazareth (13-19 overall, 5-7 E8) needs at least one win over Utica in the regular-season finale Monday to secure the fourth playoff seed in the Empire 8 Tournament that begins Friday.

Stevens (19-15, 11-1) scored a pair of runs in the first inning and then added a run in the third and two more in each the fourth and fifth to take a 7-0 lead in the opener.

Nazareth scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to close the gap. Joseph led off the inning with a double and then junior Kristen Simmons reached base on a passed ball after a swinging third strike that also allowed Joseph to move to third. Sophomore Katherine Ruoff grounded out and Joseph scored before sophomore Gabriella Corasaniti singled down the line to score Simmons for the second run of the inning.

Joseph, Corasaniti and freshman Sarah Simmons each had hits for Nazareth.

Seniors Joseph, Marissa Tortora and Delaney St. George were honored between games.

In game two, Stevens jumped out to another early lead with three runs in the first, two more in the second and five in the third to go ahead 10-0.

Nazareth was able to score twice in the bottom of the third to trim the lead to eight but the Ducks held on for the run-rule victory.

In the third, Joseph singled with two out and Kristen Simmons was hit by pitch to put two runners on base. Sarah Simmons followed with a double off the wall in right centerfield to score both runners.

Joseph was 2-for-3 while the Simmons sisters had one hit each and Ruoff added the only other hit for the Golden Flyers.

Nazareth was scheduled to play Utica Sunday but the games were moved to Monday due to weather and the doubleheader is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. in Utica.