ROCHESTER, NY – Junior Justine Brooks and freshman Katie Schmidt had three hits each and senior Sarah Simmons eclipsed the 100-career hit milestone as the Nazareth College Softball team split a conference doubleheader with Houghton College on Flyer Field.
Nazareth (9-9 overall, 3-1 E8) won the opener 6-4 but the Highlanders (15-12, 3-3 E8) came back to win the second game, 11-3.
In the opener, Houghton took an early lead with a single run in the top of the first inning but Nazareth responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a lead.
Brooks opened the inning with a double and sophomore Cassidy Hoffmier followed with a double to chase Brooks home to tie the game at 1-1. Simmons was up next and entered the game with 99 career hits.
The senior belted her first home run of the season and gave the Golden Flyers a 3-1 lead with her 100th career hit.
The Highlanders trimmed the lead to 3-2 with a single run in the third before Nazareth extended the lead with another three-run inning in the fourth.
Junior starting pitcher Emily Daciw started the inning with a home run over the left field fence. Sophomore Megan Pum walked and moved to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Schmidt reached on an error to put runners on second and third with one out.
Brooks followed with a run scoring single and Hoffmier also picked up an RBI with a ground out to give Nazareth a 6-2 lead.
Houghton tried to rally in the fifth and scored a pair of runs after loading the bases but a force out at third and a ground out to second base ended the rally with the Golden Flyers holding the 6-4 advantage.
Brooks and Schmidt had two hits each in the game and Simmons added two RBI. Daciw allowed seven hits and four runs and struck out 12 batters.
In game two, Houghton scored in the first inning again and Nazareth answered in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead.
Brooks hit a lead-off home run to tie the game and sophomore Marissa Berghorn singled home Hoffmier, who had doubled earlier in the inning, for the 2-1 lead.
The Highlanders scored at least a run in each of the final five innings including a four-run fourth inning to take a commanding lead.
The lone Nazareth run after the first was a single run in the fourth inning.
Pum, junior Hailie Bennett and senior Jessica Klem each singled to load the bases before Schmidt drove in a run with a fielder's choice infield grounder to third base.
Hoffmier and Berghorn had two hits each for Nazareth and the Golden Flyers struggled in the field with six errors in the game.
Nazareth will continue Empire 8 play Saturday with a pair of games at Alfred.
