CHICOPEE, Mass. - Sophomore Katie Hopkins of the Lasell University softball team went a combined 6-of-8 batting, with five RBIs, three runs and one double, during a two-game split at GNAC-rival Elms, as the Lasers won the first game, 9-7, and the Blazers prevailed, 10-9, in eight innings during Game 2.

The Lasers (14-20, 6-10 GNAC) were led in the doubleheader by Emily Mestas (4 for 10, 2 runs), Brianna Gendreau (3 of 9, 5 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles), Angelena Piers (3 of 8, 2 doubles, run), Samara Turgeon (4 of 9, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) and Eryn Sheeley (3 of 7, 3 RBIs, run, homer, double). During Game 2, Gendreau recorded her 100th career hit.

Josie Cammarata (5 of 7, 6 RBIs, 2 doubles, run), Courtney Schwark (4 for 9, 5 runs, 2 RBIs), Alli Alleano (4 for 6, 5 runs, 2 RBIs, homer, triple), Nicole DeFeo (3 for 7, 3 runs, 2 RBIs) and Ryanne Fournier (3 for 7, 3 RBIs) led the way for the Blazers (10-18, 3-11 GNAC).

Game 1 (Lasell 9, Elms 7):

Hopkins went 4 of 4, to go along with four RBIs and one double, while freshman Meghan Theall finished 3 of 4, with two runs. Alleano, Cammarata, Sofie Oliveira, DeFeo and Fournier recorded multi-hit games for Elms. Lasell led the hits' category, 15-11, and Theall earned the complete-game win in the circle.

A three-run double by Hopkins with two outs during the second inning gave the Lasers a 4-1 advantage. Elms responded with three straight runs, evening the game at 4-4 on a one-run single by Fournier in the fourth. Lasell put a five spot on the board in the fifth, featuring a two-run blast by Sheeley, a two-run double by Gendreau and an RBI single from Hopkins. 

The Lasers built a 9-4 cushion and withstood a late three-run surge by the Blazers to secure the two-run victory. A two-run homer by Alleano ended the scoring in the bottom half of the sixth.

Game 2 (Elms 10, Lasell 9 - 8 innings):

Turgeon went 3 of 5, with two RBIs and one run, while Schwark (3 of 5, 3 runs, RBI) and Cammarata (3 for 3, 4 RBIs, double, run) led the way for the Blazers. Each team finished with 15 hits and the Lasers did not compile a single error. Jayden Dow earned the win for Elms, throwing five innings of relief and giving up two runs and six hits, while striking out five and walking one.

Lasell hit the ground running, taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single to right by Kelsey Scannevin. After Elms scored a pair in the bottom half of the first, Turgeon and Sheeley tallied RBI singles in the second, putting the visitors in front, 6-2. A five-run third gave the hosts a 7-6 advantage, as the rally included one-run singles by Schwark and Fournier, a two-run single from DeFeo and an RBI double by Sarah Fortini.

Lasell knotted the game at 7-7 in the top half of the fourth, with Gendreau crossing home on an RBI ground out to second by Hopkins. The game went into extra innings tied at 9-9, and then during the bottom half of the eighth, Cammarata posted the game-winning RBI single to center with two outs.

Up Next:

The Lasers will compete against GNAC-rival Saint Joseph's (Maine) Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. in Standish, Maine.

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

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