ROCHESTER, NY – Senior Emily Daciw struck out nine batters and delivered a game-winning grand slam in the fifth inning to propel the Nazareth Softball team to a run-rule 14-4 win in the opening game of an Empire 8 doubleheader against Keuka. In game two, the teams battled through 10 innings before a throwing error allowed junior Marissa Berghorn to score the winning run for a 6-5 Nazareth victory and a sweep of the doubleheader.
Nazareth (12-12 overall, 6-4 Empire 8) had 16 hits in the first game and added 10 more in the second game. Graduate student Sarah Simmons led the Golden Flyers with a record-setting day. She was 5-for-8 at the plate including a 4-for-5 effort in game two. She added three runs scored and knocked in four more. Her third RBI of the day in game two gave her a record-setting 88 for her career as she now has the most career runs batted in. The third double of the day in game two also tied the school record for career doubles with 33.
The Golden Flyers had a 5-0 lead in the first game but Keuka (8-20, 2-8 Empire 8) rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth to close the gap.
The bottom of the fifth started with a Daciw single and with two outs, juniors Cassidy Hoffmier and Megan Pum recorded hits before senior Justine Brooks connected on a two-run triple. Simmons reached on an error that scored Brooks and freshman Maddy Spakoski and Berghorn each singled to load the bases. Daciw came up to plate for the second time in the inning and delivered a blast over the centerfield fence for the grad slam and the game-clinching 10-run lead.
Daciw tossed a complete game for her ninth win of the season with nine K's.
Brooks and Spakoski had three hits each while Pum, Berghorn and Daciw had two hits apiece.
In game two, Simmons was the offensive force with a 4-for-5 effort and Brooks added a pair of hits.
Each team scored runs in the first, third and fourth innings as Nazareth held a slim 5-4 lead after four innings. Keuka tied the game in the seventh to force extra innings.
Neither team scored in the first two extra frames. The Wolves attempted to steal home after a pitch in the dirt but was thrown out at the plate to end the half inning.
In the bottom of the 10th, Berghorn was placed at second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, senior Haillie Bennett hit a ground ball to the shortstop but her throw to first was offline and drew the first baseman off the bag that allowed Berghorn to score the winning run form third.
Bennett tossed the complete game as she scattered nine hits and struck out two batters for her third win of the season.
Nazareth is scheduled for a pair of doubleheaders on the road at St. John Fisher Wednesday and at Geneseo Friday before returning home for a Sunday doubleheader against Medaille. The senior day ceremony will take place Sunday between games.
