NEWTON, MA-- The Lasell College women's softball team produced a 5-3 victory in the first of two games against the Beacons of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, then fell 9-1 in the nightcap.
In the first inning of the doubleheader the Lasers came out swinging. Freshman Rachel Haas (Middleton, MA) homered to begin the game giving the Lasers and early 1-0 lead. Lasell proceeded to score three more runs during that half inning due to an extra base hit by sophomore Marissa McHugh (Plymouth, MA), a single by junior Kelly Silvia (Oaks Bluff, MA), as well as Beacon errors which produced an unearned run for the Lasers. Lasell held the Beacons scoreless through the first two innings of play with a score of 4-0 heading into the third inning.
The Lasers starting pitcher for the first game was junior Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, MA). Mammola shut down the potent Beacon offense during the first game, allowing only one earned run in seven innings of work, capturing the win while striking out two.
In the third inning, UMass got their offense rolling when senior Amanda Cianciulli reached base on an error and then scored on an error hit by junior Christina Polsonetti. Polsonetti came into score on a double hit by first year Kasey O’ Connell which brought the score to 4-2. The Beacons held the Lasers scoreless in the third inning.
The next inning brought excitement as the Beacons scored the first run in the top of the fourth when a double by freshman Janery Gomez turned into a run, off of a Laser error. The Beacons left one runner on base during the top half of the inning. In the bottom half of the inning Silvia led off the Lasers with a walk. She then advanced to third on a passed ball and a Boston error. Haas then scorched a single through the left side scoring Silvia, to increase the Lasers lead to two. The Lasers finished their bottom half of the fourth gaining one run and one hit, while leaving no runners on base.
After the Lasers increased their lead to 5-3 in the 4th inning, they closed the door throughout the rest of the game winning the matchup 5-3. Kelly Barden (Quincy, MA), McHugh, and Haas led the Lasers with two hits apiece. McHugh and Haas also added 2 RBI’s in the victory.
In game two, junior Emily Wolf got the win pitching six innings, while giving up six hits, one earned run, and striking out five. The loss went to starting pitcher freshman Alison Saluti (Braintree, MA). Saluti gave up only two earned runs, however, due to the four errors by the Lasers defense throughout the course of the game, eight Beacon runs were scored.
The Beacons did most of their damage through the first four innings of play scoring eight runs on eight hits. First baseman Lisa Polsonetti had one hit during the game with a single that drove in two runners. Shortstop Taryn Asta, also contributed to the Beacons triumph recording one hit and two RBI’s.
Barden knocked a center field double in the first inning for Lasell, earning an RBI on the play.
Nicole Slader (Harrisville,RI) also pitched for the Lasers, throwing 2 and 1/3 innings while surrendering one run and striking out one.
Lasell is back in action on Tuesday, April 6th with a double-header against Simmons College scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. on Taylor Field.
Written by: Randy Weiner