WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Softball (4-4) concluded its annual spring break trip to Florida with two losses to UW-River Falls (4-9), 6-3, and No. 20 Rowan (12-4), 6-3, Wednesday afternoon at DiamondPlex.

GAME ONE: UW-RIVER FALLS 6, NAZARETH 3

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Nazareth fell behind early as a two-run first inning put them in a 2-0 hole, with defensive miscues allowing runs to score before Madison Hicks settled in and limited further damage.
• The deficit grew to 3-0 in the third on an RBI groundout, but Nazareth answered in the fourth when Ella Maloney drove in Emma Maloney with a single to right, starting a steady push back into the game.
• After another unearned run made it 4-1, Nazareth continued chipping away in the fifth as Madison Hicks delivered an RBI single to score Ruby Marrapese, cutting the margin to two.
• The Golden Flyers kept the pressure on in the sixth, stringing together baserunners before Bryanna Moroughan singled home Julia Maciag to make it 5-3, but a run allowed in the top half prevented further momentum.
• Nazareth pitching combined for five strikeouts, with Hicks working five innings and Amanda Linnenbrink adding a strikeout in relief, but defensive errors throughout led to multiple unearned runs that proved costly.
• In the seventh, Nazareth put the tying run on base after a leadoff double by Linnenbrink, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the rally as the comeback attempt fell short. 

GAME NOTES 

• Madison Hicks led the Golden Flyers with three hits against the Falcons, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and an RBI. 

GAME TWO: NO. 20 ROWAN 6, NAZARETH 3

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nazareth struck first in the opening inning when Bryanna Moroughan singled and came around to score on Haleigh Suitor's RBI double to right center, giving the Golden Flyers an early 1-0 lead.
• The momentum shifted quickly in the second as Rowan capitalized on an error and two-out traffic, stringing together multiple RBI singles and a two-run double to take control with a five-run inning and a 5-1 lead.
• Nazareth answered in the third with pressure on the bases, as Morgan Russo reached and Kaijah Alexander followed with a single that led to a run-scoring on a throwing error, trimming the deficit to 5-2.
• In the circle, Amanda Linnenbrink settled things after entering in relief during the second, limiting further damage and recording a pair of strikeouts over 4.1 innings to keep Nazareth within reach.
• Rowan added an insurance run in the fifth on a steal of home, extending the lead to 6-2 despite continued defensive efforts from Nazareth.
• The Golden Flyers mounted one last push in the sixth, loading the bases before Alexis Brown dropped a bunt single that brought in a run, but the rally stalled as Nazareth left two on base.
• Nazareth collected 10 hits in the game, including multi-hit efforts from Russo and Brown, but four strikeouts and missed opportunities with runners on base prevented a full comeback. 

GAME NOTES 

• Morgan Russo, Alexis Brown and Kaijah Alexander posted two hits apiece against Rowan, the first career multi-hit game for the freshman Brown. 

UP NEXT 
Nazareth returns to the 585 to take on Rochester in a doubleheader, Tuesday, March 24. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Southside Field. 

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