NAPLES, FL –
Rachel Mertens drove in both Nazareth runs and pitched a two-hit contest as Nazareth downed Clark (Mass.) 2-1 in its first game of the day, before the Golden Flyers fell 9-4 in game two at the hands of the Swarthmore (Pa.).
Nazareth moves to 4-2 on the year after Tuesday's results.
Game one: Nazareth 2, Clark 1Nazareth scored both its runs in the fourth inning.
Maureen Rogers led off the inning with a single and advanced to third base after a
Carly Pike double. The very next batter, Mertens slugged a double down the line to score both runners.
Clark scored its lone run in the sixth inning. With runners at first and second the Cougars were able to get on the board on an errant throw to first from third base. Mertens mowed down the very next batter to get out of the jam.
Nazareth had an opportunity to add some insurance runs in the final inning.
Stephanie Mongelli reached on an error and
Marissa Tortora doubled on the very next play. The Golden Flyers were unable to cash in, however.
Mertens struck out two of her nine batters in the 7
th to take down the side and seal the victory.
Mertens finished 2-for-3 in the game. Five Golden Flyers tallied a hit in the contest.
Game Two: Swarthmore 9, Nazareth 4 Swarthmore got on the board in the first inning.
Nicole White struck out Anna Jensen, which would have been the final out of the inning, but an error on the passed ball and subsequent throw to third base allowed the run to score. The Garnet added one more in the inning to hold a 2-0 advantage.
Nazareth got those runs back in the top of the third.
Meghan Barry singled to start the inning, later scoring on a wild pitch. Rogers brought in
Sarah Papponetti to even the score at 2-2 before Swarthmore regained the lead in the bottom half.
After the Regents scored one more run in the fifth inning, Nazareth fought back to tie the score at 4-4. White, earned an RBI single to score Mertens.
Taylor Turcsik also crossed home in the inning on an error from the shortstop.
The Regents had an answer, however, benefiting from three errors and five hits to open up a 9-4 lead in the sixth.
Danae Wetherbee came in relief to close out the game. She pitch .2 innings, allowing three hits and three runs.
White drops to 2-1 on the season after allowing six hits, six runs (five earned), while striking out five.
Rogers went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Barry and White each went 2-for-3.
Nazareth returns to action on Thursday when it will take on Bridgewater State at 9 a.m. and Wilmongton at 11 a.m.
