ROCHESTER, NY (nazathletics.com) – Nazareth Softball stayed hot Tuesday afternoon, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against RIT at the RIT Softball Complex. The Golden Flyers jumped out early in game one and carried that momentum into game two, earning a pair of convincing wins as they continue their record-setting season. With the victories, Nazareth increased their new program record to 25 wins.
GAME ONE: NAZARETH 11, RIT 0 (5 INN.)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Nazareth set the tone immediately in the opening inning. Alexis Brown reached on a single and quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Bryanna Moroughan followed with a triple to center field to bring her home, and Madison Hicks added an RBI single later in the inning to give the Golden Flyers a 2-0 lead before RIT had a chance to settle in.
- The pressure continued in the second inning as Nazareth capitalized on defensive miscues. Brown reached base and eventually scored on an error, while Moroughan delivered another RBI with a single to extend the advantage to 4-0.
- Nazareth added on in the third when Haleigh Suitor came through with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 5-0. Meanwhile, Avery Zembek was in control in the circle, retiring hitters efficiently and limiting any RIT offensive momentum through the early innings.
- The game broke wide open in the fourth inning. After putting runners on base, Nazareth strung together timely hits and took advantage of errors to plate six runs in the frame. Moroughan and Brown each contributed to the rally before Suitor delivered the biggest swing of the game, launching a three-run home run to left center to stretch the lead to 11-0.
- Nazareth's defense and pitching closed out the game cleanly, keeping RIT off the scoreboard and securing the run-rule victory. Zembek earned the win, improving to 10-2 on the season.
GAME NOTES:
GAME TWO: NAZARETH 8, RIT 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Game two started as a tighter contest, with both teams held scoreless in the first inning. Nazareth broke through in the second when Morgan Russo doubled to center and advanced on a wild pitch before Ashley Bell delivered an RBI single to give the Golden Flyers a 1-0 lead.
- RIT responded in the bottom half, using a pair of hits to tie the game at 1-1, but Nazareth quickly answered in the third. Madison Hicks helped her own cause, launching a solo home run to left field to regain the lead at 2-1 and shift momentum back to the Golden Flyers.
- The game remained competitive into the middle innings until Nazareth created separation in the fifth. After a leadoff baserunner reached, Russo delivered again with an RBI double down the right field line to extend the lead to 3-1.
- Nazareth added insurance in the sixth inning with a strong sequence of extra-base hits. Ashley Bell tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a double by Caitlyn Knapp. Ruby Marrapese followed with another double to bring home Knapp, giving Nazareth a 5-1 advantage.
- The Golden Flyers put the game away in the seventh, scoring three more runs on timely hitting. Bell added another RBI single, and Knapp capped the inning with a two-run double to extend the lead to 8-1. RIT managed a late run in the bottom half, but Nazareth closed out the win to complete the sweep.
GAME NOTES:
- Madison Hicks recorded the win in the circle and added a solo home run at the plate.
- Caitlyn Knapp recorded multiple RBIs, including a key two-run double late.
- Ashley Bell contributed in multiple ways, finishing with extra-base hits and RBIs.
- Nazareth totaled eight runs with consistent production across the middle and late innings.
UP NEXT:
Nazareth now turns its focus to the Empire 8 Championships, where they will open play on Thursday, May 7 as a top-four seed in the six-team tournament, looking to build on a record-setting regular season. Game times TBA.
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