Rochester, MN -- The Onondaga Community College women's softball team scored five runs in the top half of the sixth inning to open up the NJCAA National Championships with a 5-4 win over Rowan College at Gloucester County Thursday afternoon in Rochester, Minnesota.

The Lazers found themselves down 2-0 headed into the sixth inning. Morgan Neadom and Emily Clapper drew back-to-back walks to open the frame. Samantha Moon then lined triple to score both Neadom and Clapper to tie the score at two. Morgan Nichols followed with a single to plate Moon giving the Lazers a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth. After a sacrifice bunt from Casey Gray to move Nichols to second, the bases became loaded when Caitlin Wormuth was hit by a pitch and Victoria Duffy advanced all runners on a single.  With the bases juiced, Lea Newman hit a single on the 10th pitch of the at-bat to score Nichols and Wormuth giving Onondaga the 5-2 lead.

Rowan College at Gloucester County would answer with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the sixth but Nichols shut the door in the seventh to give the Lazers the opening round win.

Duffy booked two hits for Onondaga, while Newman and Moon collected two RBIs apiece to lead the Lazers offense.

Nichols tossed all seven inning giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out seven Roadrunners.

The Lazers advance in the winners bracket of the NJCAA Division III National Championships and play top-seeded and top-ranked Rock Valley College on Thursday at 3 p.m. EST. Follow that game live HERE.

Box Score

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