FORT MYERS, FL -- Senior Kristen Simmons had hits in each game including a pair of hits with a double, a run scored and a run batted in in the first of two games for the Nazareth College softball team as the Golden Flyers opened their annual Florida trip with a pair of close losses at the Century Link complex.
Nazareth (0-2) lost a 3-2 decision to North Central College as the Cardinals scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Golden Flyers then surrendered four first inning runs and dropped a 4-0 decision to Rockford University in the second game of the day.
In the opener, Sophomore Maddie Funk was solid through the first six innings in the circle for Nazareth but surrendered a double and a single as North Central scored twice in the final inning to come-from-behind for the 3-2 win.
Nazareth took a lead in the fourth inning when senior Mackenzie reached base on an error to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Justine Brooks before Simmons ripped a double to score Kapp for the first run of the game.
Simmons scored the second run of the game in the sixth inning as she hit a two-out infield single to deep shortstop and took second on a wild pitch. Junior Katherine Ruoff followed with a single between shortstop and third base and Simmons came around to score to give Nazareth a 2-0 lead.
North Central used a pair of doubles to score a run in the bottom of the inning and cut the lead in half before scoring the two runs in the seventh to end the game.
In the second game, used a walk, four hits and three stolen bases in the bottom of the first inning to push across four runs and take an early lead.
After the shaky start, senior Kylie Smith settled in and did not allow a run for the rest of the game.
The Nazareth offense struggled as the Rockford starting pitchers struck out five and allowed just three hits to keep the Golden Flyers off the board.
Nazareth threatened in the sixth inning loading the bases with only one out but a strike out and an infield popup ended the threat. Freshman Lily Sullivan started the sixth inning rally with a single and junior Janelle Walters followed with a single through the left side of the infield before Brooks was hit by pitch to load the bases.
Simmons finished the day 3-for-6 with a run and a run batted in. Walters had a hit in each game while Kapp had a hit and a run scored in the opener.
Nazareth continues the Florida trip Monday with games against Coast Guard and SUNY Canton in Naples, Florida.
