WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior Zach Handzel (Palmer, Mass.) and senior David Marsell (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) posted strong pitching outings for Lasell College Saturday afternoon as the Lasers swept a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) baseball doubleheader from Anna Maria College, 4-2 and 9-2, at Brandeis University's Stein Diamond.
Handzel allowed just two runs on eight hits in seven innings to earn the complete-game victory in the opener, while Marsell surrendered two runs on six hits in six innings to record the win in the nightcap.
The Lasers improve to 12-7 overall and 3-1 in the GNAC, while the Amcats drop to 8-13 overall and 1-3 in conference games.
Both teams will meet Gordon College in their next game, as Lasell hosts the Fighting Scots on Tuesday, April 2, in a non-conference game at 6 p.m. and Anna Maria will host them on Wednesday, April 3, in Northborough, Mass., at 3 p.m.
Game 1: Lasell 4, Anna Maria 2
Handzel struck out three batters as he improved to 4-1 on the season with a 3.03 earned run average.
Senior Evan Michalek (Berlin, Conn.) went 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs for the Lasers. Senior Andre Marchesseault (Cheshire, Conn.) also had a double in three trips to the plate.
The visitors took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by junior Greg Gehring (Southold, N.Y.) and an RBI ground out by freshman Jake Montas (Manchester, Conn.).
Lasell answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Brett Sherron (Howard Beach, N.Y.) singled, stole second, went to third on a single by senior Zach Herring (Fresno, Calif.), and scored on a sacrifice fly by classmate Rob Cutone (Tewksbury, Mass.). After a single by sophomore Wyatt Sihvonen (Lebanon, Conn.), Michalek delivered a two-run double to left to score Herring and Sihvonen.
The Lasers tacked on an insurance run in the fifth inning when Marchesseault doubled down the left field line with two outs and scored on an RBI single by senior Chris Maringo (Farmingville, N.Y.).
Game 2: Lasell 9, Anna Maria 2
Marsell improved his record to 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA, striking out one. Senior Dan Petr (East Haven, Conn.) finished off the win with a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two.
Sophomore Jimmy Griffin (Worcester, Mass.) led the Laser offense with two hits and four RBI, while Marsell had two hits and two RBI. Junior Joe Sullivan (East Sandwich, Mass.) and sophomore Harrison Silva (Lowell, Mass.) also had two hits apiece.
Anna Maria took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, as Gehring hit a sacrifice fly and freshman Connor Egan (Modes, Conn) drove in a run with an infield single. The Lasers tied the score with a pair in the third inning on a two-run single by Griffin.
Lasell took control with a five-run fourth inning. Michalek brought home a run with an infield ground out, Marsell singled in a run, and Griffin added another two run single. Sherron capped the rally with a sac fly to right. The Lasers added single runs in the sixth and seventh on RBI singles by Marsell and Silva.
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