Fort Pierce, FL - The Lasell University baseball team took its spring break trip down to Florida where they competed in ten games versus seven different colleges from across the country. Overall they went 5-5 on the week which brings their current overall record to 7-6.
Game 1
The Lasers started the trip on Sunday with a matchup against Thiel College Tomcats (PA). This exciting first matchup saw each team get off to quiet starts as the Pierce Clare RBI double in the 3rd was the only run through four innings for either team. In the fifth inning, the Lasers tacked on 3 runs with contributions from Pierce Clare and Jared Whitby. As soon as the Lasers opened up the 4-0 advantage, the Tomcats awakened with a 4-run 6th inning evening up the game at 4-4. Going into the bottom of the seventh the score was once again tied 5-5, but the Lasers lineup would do the most damage in this inning. With the bases loaded, Declan Silva drew a walk which gave the Lasers its lead back, 6-5. Then Tim Callahan singled to right field which drove in 2 runs and then another on a throwing error. Through the final two innings, Thiel scored two in the 8th and had a runner on third with a chance to tie in the 9th. Pitcher Luke Descheneaux was then able to strike out a batter to earn the second out and make the next batter ground out earning him and the Lasers the 9-8 win.
Game 2
The second game Sunday saw the Lasers face the Bullets of Gettysburg College (PA). After the Bullets put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning, a pitcher's duel ensued as neither team scored again until Lasell got its first run across in the top of the 6th on a Tim Callahan RBI double. Gettysburg then scored a run in the bottom of the 7th to make it 3-1, but the Lasers evened the game 3-3 the following inning. It was Callahan who doubled again driving in 2 runs and putting pressure on the Bullets. The Bullets did find their way to a run after getting men on base and playing small ball to recapture the lead 4-3. Unfortunately for the Lasers, they weren't able to connect on their at-bats in the 9th and took the narrow 4-3 defeat.
Games 3-4
On Monday the Lasers had two exciting games versus the Penn St.-Behrend Lions. They would split these two games winning the first 4-3, and losing the second in a 14-13 high-scoring affair. The first game saw the Lasers score in various ways as they were able to manufacture runs from sacrifice flys and mistakes by the Lion's defense. As a team, they combined for only 9 hits but were able to do enough to hold on after the Lions threatened with 2 runs in the 6th inning. Nico Nigro went 2-3 with an RBI to aid the victory. Derek Lallo also earned his first save of the year not allowing an earned run in two innings pitched.
The second game was drastically different from the first as each team manufactured big innings offensively. The Laser's 12 hits resulted in 13 runs as they also drew 7 walks and were able to drive runners in once on base. Leadoff hitter Declan Silva had a 3-4 performance with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Pierce Clare and Connor Freitas each also contributed 2 RBIs each for the Lasers. While the Lasers hung 5 runs in the 4th and 4 in the 6th, the Lions were able to battle back and score 8 runs in the final two innings and walked it off in the bottom of the 7th, 14-13.
Games 5-6
Tuesday afternoon brought the Lasers a doubleheader versus the Marywood Pacers from Scranton, PA. The Lasers scored their two and only runs in the bottom of the first inning off a Pierce Clare RBI single and a throwing error which allowed Tim Callahan and Connor Freitas to score. This game featured a great pitching outing from the Lasers Jeremy Blackwood who went 7 innings allowing only one earned run. Behind the excellent pitching from Lockwood, the Lasers two early runs proved enough to be the deciding factor as they game one of the series 2-1.
Similar to the story of the previous day, the second game of the doubleheader saw much more offensive action as the two teams combined for 21 runs. In this one, Tim Callahan and Scott Lyon each went 3-5 and added an RBI. Christopher Bulk and Connor Freitas had 2 RBIs a piece as well to fuel the Lasers' runs. The two teams matched each other stride for stride most of the game and took a 10-10 tie into extras. In the top of the 8th, Declan Silva's RBI single brought Jared Whitby across the plate and CJ Mills would then strike out the side in the bottom of the inning to earn the win.
Game 7
After a day off Wednesday, the Lasers came back Thursday to play Kenyon College (OH). Despite a 3-run third inning from the Lasers, they couldn't keep up with the Owls who posted 12 runs on the day. Connor Freitas went 3-4 to lead the Laser's offense and Scott Lyon contributed 2 RBIs. The Lasers would go on to drop this contest 12-3.
Game 8
They bounced back Friday however with a 15-3 rout of the Monmouth (IL) Fighting Scots. With a 7-2 lead going into the final inning, the Laser offense exploded for 8 runs in the top of the 9th which marked their highest-scoring game of the early season. Declan Silva, Tim Callahan, Pierce Clare, and Jared Whitby all had multi-hit games for the Lasers. Silva and Lyon each were responsible for 3 RBIs as each had RBI hits in the 9th inning eruption.
Game 9
Washington College (MD) was the second-to-last opponent for the Lasers on the trip. The Shoremen held the Lasers scoreless through eight innings and used a 5-run 7th inning to open up the game. Despite the 10-1 loss, Tim Callahan went 2-4 and Matthew Williams had a pinch-hit RBI in the 9th.
Game 10
In the final game of the trip the Lasers would face the Bullets of Gettysburg College once more. The Bullets proved to be a tough opponent yet again as they were able to jump out 6-1 through the first two innings. The fifth inning saw the Lasers manufacture three runs as Matthew Williams, Christopher Bulk, and Tyler Dinezza were each responsible for RBIs. These runs chipped into the Bullet's lead but weren't enough for the Lasers to rally back from its deficit as they would eventually fall 16-4.
During the course of the trip, two career milestones were hit for players Tim Callahan and Matthew Fletcher. Callahan overtook the school record for career runs scored which stood at 106. The senior who has had an impressive career as a Laser looks to continue to build on this record over the course of the 2025 campaign and push to break other records as well. Matthew Fletcher who already holds the Lasell strikeout record continued to add to his number by hitting the 200 mark after his eight strikeouts in the 15-3 win versus Monmouth (IL).
Up Next - The Lasers will be at Curry College on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3:30 PM.