Paxton, MA – The Lasell University softball team dropped a doubleheader against the Anna Maria Amcats on Sunday afternoon, 12-9 and 9-7. The losses set Lasell back to 20-11 overall and 11-3 in conference. The wins for Anna Maria move them to 14-18 overall and 5-7 in conference.

Game 1

Lasell got out to an early lead in game one as Brianna Gendreau led of the game with a triple to right field and Emily Mestas would bring her home with a single. After a walk and a stolen base would give the Lasers runners on second and third and a sacrifice fly from Eryn Sheeley would bring in another run. Another Laser run would come across on an error and give them a 3-0 lead. Another run would score in the third on another error giving the Lasers a 4-0 advantage.

Anna Maria would score their first run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third, but Lasell would get it back in the bottom half as Katie Hopkins blasted a home run to left center.

The Amcats would get things going in the bottom half of the fifth as Shay Savoie smacked a two-run home run and shortly after her Sabrina Liston sent one over the left field fence for a three-run home run to give Anna Maria a 6-5 lead. A single from Samantha Dahill with runners on first and third would add to the Amcat lead and later a bases loaded walk would bring in another run making it 8-5 Anna Maria after five.

Lasell would retake the lead as Mestas brought in another run on a fielder's choice and Hopkins sent her second home run of the day over the left field wall making it 9-8 Lasers.

In the bottom of the sixth back-to-back singles would bring in three Anna Maria runs and another single from Savoie brought in a fourth giving them a 12-9 lead. That lead would hold as the Amcats shut down Lasell in the seventh, clinching the win.

Sheeley started for the lasers, tossing four innings allowing just three hits and one run while walking one and striking out four. Shyanne Raccio (2-2) got charged with the loss as she threw two innings, allowing six hits and six runs while walking three and striking out one.

Offensively for the Lasers, Hopkins homered twice and drove in four runs, Mestas singled and drove in a run and Sheeley doubled and also drove in a run. Gendreau and Ally Kirck both singled twice and Mackenzie Still, Raccio and Alyssa Bland each singled.

Game 2

Lasell would get out ahead again in game two as Hopkins singled in Gendreau to give the Lasers a 1-0 first inning advantage. The Amcats would fire back in the bottom half however, scoring five runs on four hits and one error to build a 5-1 lead. They would tack on another run in the third on a single and two more runs in the fifth on another single and a fielder's choice. After five the Amcats led 8-1.

In the top of the sixth inning, back-to-back doubles from Raccio and Bland would bring in a Laser run and back-to-back singles from Kirck and Gendreau would make it a 8-4 game. Anna Maria would get one of those back on an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning as they led 9-4.

The Lasers would have their last chance to make a comeback in the top of the seventh and a walk and single would give them runners on second and third with no outs. Sheeley would then come up and hit her fourth home run of the season, inching them closer and making it a 9-7 game. That would be all they could muster however as the next three batters were retired in order to end the game.

Abby Fortin (9-3) got the start for Lasell in game two, earning the loss as she tossed four innings allowing six runs on six hits with one walk and one strike out.

Offensively, Sheeley singled and homered, driving in three runs. Bland doubled, singled, and drove in a run and Raccio also doubled. Kirck singled twice and drove in a run, Hopkins singled twice and Fortin and Gendreau each singled.

Up Next: The Lasers return home on Tuesday, April 23rd for a non-conference doubleheader with Framingham State. First pitch in game one is slated for 3:00 pm.

Written By: Camdyn Ames