ROCHESTER, NY (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Softball (18-10, 12-4) bounced back for two shutout wins on Senior Day over SUNY Brockport (13-13, 9-5), 8-0 (5 inn.) and 5-0, Saturday afternoon at Flyer Field.
GAME ONE: NAZARETH 8, BROCKPORT 0 (5 INN)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nazareth broke through immediately in the first as Alexis Brown singled and stole second before coming home on Morgan Russo's bases-loaded walk. Haleigh Suitor followed with a two-run single to right center to give the Golden Flyers a quick 3-0 lead.
- The offense stayed aggressive in the second, taking advantage of defensive miscues as Julia Maciag scored on an error and Bryanna Moroughan delivered an RBI single to center, stretching the lead to 5-0.
- Nazareth added on in the third when Maddy Spakoski launched a solo home run, pushing the advantage to 6-0 and continuing a steady inning-by-inning build.
- The Golden Flyers capped the scoring in the fifth with another rally, as Ashley Bell and Addison Mayers opened with singles before Alexis Brown drove in a run with a base hit. Mayers later scored on a wild pitch that ended the game via the run rule, making it 8-0 win for Nazareth.
- Avery Zembek set the tone in the circle, holding Brockport scoreless through five innings while allowing three hits and striking out five, including back-to-back scoreless frames early that kept momentum firmly with Nazareth.
GAME NOTES
- Avery Zembek improved to 6-1 in the circle with her second shutout victory of the spring. Zembek allowed less than five hits for the fifth time this season, leading the Empire 8 with just 37 hits allowed in 35 innings pitched. She also leads the E8 with a 2.18 earned run average.
- Alexis Brown led the Golden Flyers at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base. Brown leads the Empire 8 with a .514 batting average so far this season.
- Maddy Spakoski launched her first home run of the season in the third inning, the eighth of her career and first since her sophomore year.
GAME TWO: NAZARETH 5, BROCKPORT 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nazareth struck first in the opening inning as Alexis Brown led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice, and scored on Kaijah Alexander's sacrifice fly for an early 1-0 lead.
- The Golden Flyers created separation in the third, starting with singles from Ashley Bell and Ruby Marrapese before Brown's sacrifice moved both into scoring position. Bryanna Moroughan followed with an RBI groundout and Alexander delivered the decisive swing with a two-run home run to push the lead to 4-0.
- Madison Hicks controlled the game in the circle, working around a pair of hits and a couple baserunners early while keeping Brockport off the scoreboard through the middle innings.
- Nazareth added insurance in the sixth when Morgan Russo launched a solo home run, extending the lead to 5-0 and capping the scoring.
- Hicks closed it out efficiently in the seventh, inducing a groundout and a game-ending double play after a leadoff walk, securing the shutout as Brockport threatened minimally throughout.
GAME NOTES
- Kaijah Alexander and Morgan Russo recorded their sixth and eighth, respectively, home runs of the year in the second game of the afternoon. Russo ranks second in the Empire 8 for long balls while Alexander sits sixth.
- Madison Hicks tossed her first complete game shutout of the spring, improving to 8-3 on the season. The sophomore pitcher allowed just two hits and two walks in the victory.
- Alexander led the Golden Flyers with three RBI in the second game over Brockport, her sixth game this season with three or more runs batted in.
UP NEXT
Nazareth hosts first-place St. John Fisher, Tuesday, April 21. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Flyer Field.
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