FORT MYERS, FL – Senior Maddie Funk struck out a career-high nine batters and junior Justine Brooks went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Nazareth College Softball team to a 4-1 victory over SUNY Canton in the first game of the season. The Golden Flyers dropped a 3-0 decision to Skidmore in the second game of the day.

Funk allowed just one hit and one unearned run and she struck out nine batters to lead the Golden Flyers (1-1).

Brooks provided the bulk of the offense with her three hits including a double with two runs batted in and one run scored. Sophomore Cassidy Hoffmier scored two runs and senior Sarah Simmons was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Sophomore Marissa Berghorn, freshman Katie Schmidt and Funk also had hits for Nazareth.

The Golden Flyers scored a pair of runs in the third on a two-run double by Brooks.

Canton (0-1) cut the lead in half with its only run of the game in the top of the fifth with a pair of Nazareth errors leading to the run.

Nazareth answered in the bottom of the inning with two more runs to extend the lead. Simmons had a two-run single to give the Golden Flyers a 4-1 lead.

In game two, junior Emily Daciw recorded seven strikeouts and allowed five hits and three runs but the Nazareth offense was unable to score in the 3-0 loss.

The Golden Flyers had their best chance in the top of the fourth after Skidmore (1-1) had scored single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. Nazareth loaded the bases as Hoffmier and Simmons both singled and Berghorn walked but a nice catch on a line drive to second base ended the inning.

The Thoroughbreds added an insurance run in the sixth to cap the scoring.

Simmons was 2-for-3 and Hoffmier had the only other hit for Nazareth.

The Golden Flyers will play the University of Maine-Presque Isle and SUNY Delhi Monday on the second day of the annual spring training trip to Florida.