Salem, MA – The Lasell University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with the Salem State Vikings on Thursday night, winning game one by a score of 7-1 and dropping game two, 11-8. The split moves the Lasers record to 18-9 on the year while the Vikings move to 10-18.
Game 1
Lasell got out to an early lead in game one as starting pitcher Eryn Sheeley helped herself in the first inning when she brought in the first run on a fielder's choice. Two innings later, fellow senior Ally Kirck led off the inning with a ground-rule double. The very next batter, Brianna Gendreau dropped a bunt single and would steal second on the first pitch of the next at-bat, allowing Kirck to score on the throw and giving the Lasers a 2-0 lead.
The Vikings would strike back in the bottom of the fourth as a ground out scored a runner from third, splitting the Laser lead in half. However, Lasell extended their lead the next inning. With runners on first and third, Emily Mestas grounded a ball to the first baseman who overthrew the catcher, allowing a run to score and Mestas to advance to second. The next batter, Mackenzie Still sent a sacrifice fly out to centerfield, scoring another run. An error by the second baseman allowed another run to score and a single off the bat of Abby Fortin brought in Katie Hopkins to give Lasell a 6-1 lead.
The Lasers would cap off their scoring in the top of the sixth when Still collected her second RBI bringing in Gendreau on a groundball back to the pitcher.
Sheeley (8-3) started for the Lasers, earning the win and going four innings allowing one run on no hits while walking three and striking out five. Meghan Theall came in relief tossing three innings, allowing two hits while walking one and striking out two.
Offensively for the Lasers, Gendreau doubled and singled twice, scoring two runs. Kirck doubled twice and also scored two runs of her own. Fortin singled twice and drove in one run and Hopkins also added a single.
Game 2
Salem State came out hot in game two, scoring five runs on three hits in the first inning. They would tack on another in the second inning on an RBI single from Dawn Eisnor, Giving the Vikings an early 6-0 lead.
The Lasers got on the board in the third as Hopkins singled on a line drive to right field, scoring Mestas. The next inning, Kirck reached first on an error that allowed Fortin to score from third. The next batter, Gendreau, would single to center field, scoring Kirck, Alyssa Bland and Emily Stilwell, bringing the Lasers within one.
Eisnor would drive in another run for the Vikings in the bottom half of the fourth, singling through the left side of the infield scoring another run. Mestas brought the Lasers back within one run as she singled through the left side scoring Bland.
Salem State would extend their lead in the bottom of the sixth when Eisnor doubled bringing in a run. A passed ball would allow another run to come across and a single from Paige Souza would score Eisnor from third. A single and a fielder's choice would give the Vikings runners on first and third and a groundball into a double play would score Souza from third.
Going into the seventh inning, the Vikings led 11-6. Lasell would manufacture some base runners and a single from Bland would score two, but that's all the Lasers could muster, and they would drop game two, 11-8.
Grace LeClair got the start for the Lasers, pitching one and two-thirds of an inning, allowing six runs on four hits while walking seven and striking out one. Theall (0-2) got charged with the loss as she pitched the remaining four and one-third innings, allowing five runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out one.
Offensively, Mestas singled three times and drove in a run. Bland also added three singles and drove in two runs. Fortin singled twice and Gendreau, Hopkins, Sheeley, Kirck and Emily Rondeau all added singles.
Up Next: The Lasers return home for a big conference doubleheader with Johnson and Wales on Saturday. Game one is scheduled for 12:00 PM and game two is set to begin at 2:00 PM at Taylor Field.