QUINCY, Mass. – First-year righthander Piper Kinney eclipsed her career single-game best striking out eight Lions in a 9-1 game two victory to help Simmons softball (8-10) split Wednesday afternoon's doubleheader against Eastern Nazarene.

The Shark lineup gave Kinney an early three-run lead before even stepping foot on the rubber. Sophomore centerfielder Raya Anderson opened the night cap dropping down a bunt hit before advancing 60 feet on single through the left side by first-year Leah Connor. Two batters later, senior Shannon McMahon roped a triple down the right field line to bring home Anderson and Connor to make a 2-0 game. Moments later, the San Diego native came in to score the third Shark run on a ground out to shortstop by Maddie Castigliego 

It proved to be more than enough offense for Kinney. Retiring the first nine batters she faced, including setting down the side in order in the bottom of the third, Lions hitters simply could not touch the central Massachusetts native.

McMahon's bat remained hot. In the top of the third inning, McMahon roped another opposite field double down the right field line to bring home Rubin with the fourth Shark run. Two batters later, senior Emma Thacher brought home McMahon to increase the Shark advantage to five.

The Sharks offense was not finished. Two innings later, they sent nine batters to the plate to make it a 9-0 ballgame. With runners on first and second, first-year shortstop Anna Gagliastro lined an opposite field single into right to bring home Thacher and send fellow first-year Teagan Buckley to third. After Buckley came in with the seventh run of the game, Anderson kept the inning going, lining a two-run single up the middle to plate Gagliastro and Swett.

Eastern Nazarene broke up the shutout scoring a run in the home half of the fifth, but Kinney fanned Mackenzie Murray for the final out of the game.

GAME 1: EASTERN NAZARENE 4, SIMMONS 3

In the first game of the day, McMahon gave senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego a quick 2-0 lead blasting a two-run homerun to straight away centerfield in the top of the first. Castigliego escaped an early jam in the bottom of first unscathed, striking out Caoime Wernsing before getting Darcy Castro to fly out to right field.

However, an inning later the Lions took advantage of a defensive miscue in the field by the Sharks and put up a crooked number four to take a 4-2 lead. Eastern Nazarene starter Jennelle Munoz kept the Sharks off the board for the next four innings.

Simmons mounted late inning comeback, pushing across a run in the top of the sixth on a double steal attempt by Castigliego and McMahon. But it was as close as they would get.   

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Shannon McMahon went 4-for-7 with two doubles, a triple, a homerun and five RBI from the heart of Shark lineup.
• First-year right-hander Piper Kinney surpassed her career single-game best in strikeouts, fanning eight Lions in a 9-1 game two victory to earn her second win of the season.
• First-year rightfielder Teagan Buckley went 4-for-5 with a run scored on the afternoon
• Five members of the Simmons lineup recorded two hits in game two: Raya Anderson, Leah Connor, Shannon McMahon, Teagan Buckley and Anna Gagliastro.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on Saturday, April 1 when they travel to Emmanuel College to open GNAC action. First pitch slated for 10 a.m.