FORT MYERS, FL – Junior Emily Daciw recovered from a rough start and retired seven consecutive batters at one point as the Nazareth College Softball team rallied from a 7-1 deficit to cut the lead to 7-6 but fell by a run to Wilmington College Tuesday in the second game of the day for the Golden Flyers.

Nazareth fell 8-0 to Wisconsin Superior in the early game.

Wilmington scored a run in the first but Nazareth (3-3) answered to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. The Quakers then put together a big inning with six runs on five hits to take a commanding 7-1 lead.

Nazareth was not done and after Daciw pitched out of a jam in the third inning, the junior struck out three batters in the fourth and retired each of the three batters in the fifth as the Golden Flyers mounted a comeback effort.

Nazareth scored twice in the third and added three more in the fourth to close the gap to 7-6. Neither team was able to score in the final three innings despite each having good chances.

Junior Hailey Bennett led the offense with a pair of hits and junior Justine Brooks had a hit and two runs scored.

The big inning for Nazareth came in the fourth. Freshman Maggie Burdick led off the inning with a single and Bennet followed with a base hit to center.  

After a pair of outs, Simmons was at bat and thought she was awarded a walk but the Wilmington dugout argued the call and Simmons was sent back to the plate with a 3-2 count.

The senior sent the next pitch to the wall in center field for a double and advanced to third on the throw home. An errant throw to third allowed her to race home for the third run of the inning and trimmed the lead to 7-6.

Daciw finished with 11 strike outs and just two walks.

Nazareth has the day off Wednesday and returns to action Thursday with games against SUNY Oneonta and Western Connecticut State.