Softball | 3/12/2015 6:47:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Mount Mary box | Bethany Lutheran box | Updated stats
FORT MYERS, FL. -- The Golden Flyers' bats were even more scorching than the sweltering temperatures in Florida on Thursday as Nazareth dominated Mount Mary 10-2 and Bethany Lutheran 10-0 on the Golden Flyers' fourth day of competition at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. Senior Sophia Rhoades and sophomore Emily Graham were both 2-3 in each game to lead Nazareth's attack.

With the victories, the Golden Flyers even their record and improve to 4-4 overall. With their respective losses, Mount Mary fell to 2-6 overall, and Bethany Lutheran dropped to 2-4 overall.

Nazareth's offense took advantage of timely hits and opposing teams' miscues to build big leads and take command in the early innings.

In the first inning against Mount Mary, the Golden Flyers had doubles from junior Morgan Ross, Graham, and Rhoades. Ross scored on the double by Graham, and Graham crossed the plate on the two-base hit by Rhoades.

The Golden Flyers used seven hits and took advantage of two Blue Angels' errors to score seven runs in the bottom of the second. Freshman Stephanie Mongelli opened the inning with a single, which was followed by a walk by sophomore Meghan Barry. Classmate Sarah Papponetti pushed Mongelli and Barry across home when she reached on an error. Junior Morgan Ross followed with a two-run homer to stretch Nazareth's lead to 6-0. It was her second home run in as many days.

Graham continued the inning with a double, which was followed by singles by Ross, Rhoades, Cydney Luke, and Mongelli. During the string of hits, Graham and Rogers each recorded runs to extend the Golden Flyers advantage to eight runs. When Barry reached on an error, it allowed Rhoades to also score. Mount Mary prevented further damage by tallying two outs in a row.

The Blue Angels found the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. The first three batters reached base, and Mount Mary scored two runs to cut its deficit to seven runs. Nazareth got out of the inning on consecutive ground balls.

The Golden Flyers ended the game in five innings with run in the bottom of the fifth. After Graham walked and Rogers and Pike each singled to load the bases, Rhoades drew another walk for the eight-run margin.

In addition to being effective in the batter's box, Mongelli was effective on the rubber. She started the game and recorded three strikeouts with one walk and no hits. Junior Danae Wetherbee also saw action and allowed two runs on two hits.

In their game against Bethany Luteran, the Golden Flyers scored eight runs in the bottom of the second. Rhoades, Luke, and Mongelli started the stanza with lead-off singles. Barry and Papponetti both reached on errors to score Rhoades and Luke for Nazareth's first runs. Mongelli was thrown out at home, but the Golden Flyers doubled their lead on single by Graham to score Papponetti and Barry. With two outs, junior Carly Pike reached on an error to score Ross. Similar to earlier in the inning, consecutive singles kept Nazareth's offense churning. Rhoades, Luke, Mongelli, and Barry each singled. On the hits, Graham, Pike and Rhoades crossed the plate.

Pike connected on a lead-off homer in the bottom of the fourth to give Nazareth a 9-0 lead. It was her seventh-career home run. Mongelli scored the Golden Flyers' final run with a two-out triple. She crossed home on a throwing error.

Senior Nicole Bayona earned the win, her second of the season, by scattering five hits in five innings. She recorded six strikeouts. Desiree Becker went the distance for the Vikings. Becker fell to 1-2. In four innings, Nazareth battered her for 12 hits and she had only one strikeout.

The Golden Flyers close their action in Florida on Friday. Nazareth plays St. Joseph's, Maine at 9 a.m., and Swarthmore at 11 a.m. When they return to New York, the Golden Flyers are scheduled to host Cortland in a non-conference doubleheader on March 24th.