Game 1 l Game 2 l Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth shut out visiting Houghton 6-0 in game one and routed the Highlanders 14-3 in game two to sweep two non-conference softball games on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Flyers tallied three runs in the first inning of game one and 10 runs in the first inning of game two to build an early advantage in each contest. In game one, senior Kelly Kocher finished with 10 strikeouts and took a no-hitter through five and two-thirds innings before surrendering a single.

With the victories, Nazareth improves to 10-26 overall. Houghton drops to 4-30 overall after the losses. The Golden Flyers close the regular season on Sunday with an Empire 8 doubleheader at Elmira.

In game one, Kocher received early support following a one-out, two-run homerun by senior Brittany Patenaude. Patenaude's line-drive homerun to left center provided the Flyers with a 2-0 lead. It was Patenaude's second homerun of the season. After loading the bases, Nazareth added a third run on a two-out single to center field by freshman Danielle Sancilio. Sancilio's hit scored senior Casey Mathers, who had reached base on a walk. The Highlanders avoided further damage in the inning by forcing Nazareth into a groundout.

The Golden Flyers stretched their lead to six runs with a three-run fifth inning. Patenaude started the inning with a single and scored after Mathers reached on an error. Freshman Sophia Rhoades followed with a double to score freshman Melissa Reeves, who had entered the game to run for Mathers. Rhoades advanced to third following a single by freshman Shannon Dowling, and Rhoades scored after Sancilio hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

The six-run lead was more than enough offense for Kocher, who breezed through the Highlanders' batters. Kocher finished with allowing just a single, a double, and two walks to earn her fourth win of the season. Kocher currently has 143 strikeouts. Kocher lowered her earned run average to 4.53 and her opponents' batting average to .264.

Freshmen Sarah Beirne and Morgan York split time on the mound for Houghton. Beirne pitched three and one-third innings and finished with one strikeout and allowed three earned runs for the loss. York pitched two and two-thirds innings and tallied five strikeouts and was charged with one earned run.

In game two, Houghton scored three runs in the top of the first inning before Nazareth exploded for 10 runs in the bottom half. For the Highlanders, Megan Musser had a lead-off double, then Rebecca Sass reached on an error. York followed with a three-run homerun. Freshman Corrin Spallone retired three of the next four batters, including two on strikeouts, to avoid further damage.

After sophomore Liz Toner and Patenaude each singled, Mathers hit a three-run homer to tie the score. It was the first homer of the season for Mathers. Nazareth's rally continued with a homerun by Rhoades to take a 4-3 lead. It was Rhoades' team-leading fourth homerun of the year. Sancilio singled and advanced to third after sophomore Meg DeMario reached on an error. Following a walk by Spallone, Reeves doubled to score Sancilio and DeMario. Sophomore Kailey Ritch followed with a single to score Reeves and Spallone. After starting the Golden Flyers' run, Toner capped the inning with a two-run homerun to score Ritch and stretch Nazareth's lead to seven runs, 10-3. The Golden Flyers finished with nine hits in the inning.

Similar to the first inning, Toner singled to left in the fourth inning to help Nazareth stretch their lead with a four-run inning. Toner was eventually out at second on a fielder's choice, but it allowed Dowling to reach first on the play. After singles by Mathers and Sancilio, Dowling scored. Nazareth's efficiency with runners on base continued with a single by DeMario, which scored freshman Nicole Bayona and Rhoades. Before the end of the inning, Ritch added a two-out single to score DeMario to stretch Nazareth's advantage to 14-3.

Spallone earned her second victory of the season and dropped her earned run average to 5.78. Spallone recorded a game-high six strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs on eight hits.

Beirne and York also split action in game two. Beirne recorded one-third innings pitched and allowed eight earned runs on six hits and a walk. York finished with allowing six earned runs and 10 hits in the final three and two-thirds innings.