BSB: Lasers Season Ends in Heartbreak

Providence, RI - The Lasell University baseball team fell to the Johnson and Wales Wildcats, 7-6 in the GNAC playoffs elimination game on Saturday afternoon. The Lasers end their season with a 21-20 overall record and a 10-6 conference record.

Lasell struck first in this elimination game when senior Ross Audet lined a single to right field, scoring fellow senior Bryan Baumann for the game's first run. The Wildcats would tie things up in the bottom of the second inning as a wild pitch with bases loaded allowed a runner to score.

The next inning, Dave Egan singled with one out to get the Laser offense going. A Scott Lyon single gave Lasell runners on first and second with two outs. Connor Freitas then hit into a fielder's choice, but the ball was dropped trying to get Lyon out at second, getting away from the second baseman and allowing Egan to score. The next batter, Jared Whitby, then ripped a single through the right side of the infield, scoring Lyon and giving the Lasers a 3-1 lead.

Both sides would be held scoreless for the next two innings, until the sixth as the Lasers had first and third with one out. With Baumann on third, CJ Mills executed a perfect safety squeeze to bring him in. With Bulk on second and Mills now on first, Tim Callahan stepped to the plate and smoked a double down the right field line, scoring both runners and giving Lasell a 6-1 lead.

The Wildcats began their comeback in the bottom of the sixth as Xavier Botelho singled through the right side with runners on first and second to make it a 6-2 game. After two outs, Gus Lappin stepped to the plate and ripped a double to left field, scoring two more Wildcats and bringing them within two. They would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh as Owen Davis drilled a double to left center, scoring two runners and tying the game at six.

In the bottom of the ninth, a close call at first and a single through the right side gave JWU runners on first and second. Lappin stepped to the plate again and singled to right center, scoring Davis from second and winning the game.

Matt Fletcher got the start for the Lasers, throwing six and one third innings, allowing six runs on five hits while walking four and striking out five.

Offensively for the Lasers, Callahan doubled and drove in two runs, Baumann doubled and singled, Mills singled and drove in a run and Whitby and Audet each singled and drove in a run apiece. Scott Lyon singled twice, Dave Egan once, Bulk once and Edwards also singled once. 

By: Camdyn Ames