FORT MYERS, Fla. (3/17/15) – The Lasell College softball team dropped a pair of games this afternoon to Franklin and Marshall College 7-0 and Salem State University 3-1 at the Lee County Sports Complex. The Lasers fall to 2-4 on the year, while the Diplomats and the Vikings climb to 4-1 and 8-2, respectively.

Game 1 - Franklin and Marshall vs. Lasell

During their first chance at bat, F&M freshman Erin Russell (Drexel Hill, Pa.) swung into an RBI double, driving in freshman Melissa Bollmeyer (Freehold, N.J.) who reached first base on a walk.

After three consecutive 1-2-3 half innings, Russell batted in her second run of the day off a single, again scoring Bollmeyer. Sophomore Megan Ryan (Colonia, N.J.) stepped up to the plate with no outs to crack a triple to center field, scoring the runners on first and second to put the Diplomats ahead 4-0.

In the top of the fifth, freshman Ashley Gatchell (Franklin, Mass.) added the first Lasell hit of the game, reaching first on a single. The Diplomats then recorded the third out of the inning to prevent the Lasers from advancing any further. Junior Erin Larghi (Wakefield, R.I.) swung into a single in the next inning, but was also left on base.

F&M crammed three runs in their last at bats. With one out to go, sophomore Kelly Van O'Linda (Wantagh, N.Y.) felt no pressure as she cracked an RBI double to score the runner on first base. O'Linda crossed home plate on the next play from a fielding error by the Lasers before Russell tallied her third RBI of the game on the next play to seal the 7-0 victory.

Freshman pitcher Isabel Schaefer (Radnor, Pa.) dominated the mound for the Diplomats with just three hits for the entire game to remain undefeated at 3-0.

Game 2 – Lasell vs. Salem State

The Lasers started their second game of the day on a high note, scoring an early run in the first inning. Larghi led off the order with a single and advanced to second base with a sacrifice bunt from freshman Mickayla Cobb (Middleboro, Mass.).  Junior Nicole LeBlanc (Easton, Mass.) stepped up to bat and cracked a double to score Larghi, locking in the 1-0 lead.

The Vikings answered the deficit in their first chance at bat, knotting the score at 1-1. Sophomore Jess Raymond (Peabody, Mass.) reached first on a fielder's choice, and sprinted home from a single by junior Rebecca Krigman (Malden, Mass.).

In the top of the third, sophomore Erin Smith (Gorham, Maine) set the tone with a double, but was thrown out at second base on Larghi's fielder's choice.  Larghi ran over to third via a single from Cobb, but was tagged out at third to end the inning.

Senior Jenn Toussaint (Reading, Mass.) put the game out of reach when she blasted a home run to center field, securing the 3-1 victory.

Vikings Freshman pitcher Meghan Black (Winchendon, Mass.) grabbed her third win of the season with 6 innings pitched, allowing just four hits and three runs. Junior Eileen Bergin (Arlington, Mass.) evened her record at 1-1 with the loss.

The Lasers will play a doubleheader tomorrow, March 18 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. against Knox College and the University of Brockport.