WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior Andre Marchesseault (Cheshire, Conn.) had three hits and four RBIs and junior Brett Sherron (Howard Beach, N.Y.) hit a three-run home run as fourth-seeded Lasell College defeated fifth-seeded Norwich University, 16-3, in the first round of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Tournament at Stein Field.
The Lasers pounded out 18 hits in the victory, including five for extra bases. Junior David Marsell (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) pitched seven solid innings to earn the win on the mound and went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Lasell (10-19) advances to the double-elimination portion of the GNAC Tournament, and will face top-seeded Suffolk University (21-16) on Thursday, May 3, at the Rams' home field (7:00 p.m.). Norwich, which split its regular season doubleheader against Lasell, winds up the season at 7-23.
The home team took an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the first two innings, as Marchesseault hit a sacrifice fly in the first and freshman Wyatt Sihvonen (Lebanon, Conn.) delivered an RBI single in the second. Norwich came back to tie the score with two in the fourth inning as sophomore Brady Doherty (Sandwich, Mass.) tripled home a run and then scored on a single by junior Jacob Barlow (Newburyport, Mass.).
Lasell took the lead for good on an RBI single by junior Rob Cutone (Tewksbury, Mass.) in the bottom of the fourth and tacked on another unearned run in the fifth. The Lasers pulled away with three runs in the sixth, sparked by RBI singles from Marchesseault and Marsell. The hosts blew the game open with seven runs in the seventh inning, as junior Evan Michalek (Berlin, Conn.) and Marchesseault drew bases-loaded walks, freshman Harrison Silva (Lowell, Mass.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Marsell hit a sacrifice fly, and Sherron clubbed a three-run homer to left.
Marsell worked seven innings to post the win (3-1), allowing three runs on six hits and a walk, striking out three. Sophomore Mike Tacinelli (Seymour, Conn.) and junior Brian Cohen (Rockland, Mass.) each worked an inning of scoreless relief.
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