BSB: Lasers Sweep Conference Opening Doubleheader

Photo Credit - Matt Johnson
Photo Credit - Matt Johnson

Franklin, MA - The Lasell Lasers Baseball team kicked off their conference play with a doubleheader sweep of the Dean Bulldogs. The Lasers are 7-5 and 2-0 in GNAC play, while the Bulldogs are 1-12 and 0-2.

Game One

The Lasers struck first, as Jared Whitby's two run homer in the second inning put the Lasers up 2-0. After scoring another run on an error in the same inning, the Lasers led 3-0. The Bulldogs got one run back in the third, but the Lasers bats came alive in the fourth, scoring seven runs on eight hits. After CJ Mills and Connor Freitas each had RBI singles, Matthew Bischof, playing in his 100th career game, had an RBI single of his home. The next batter, Bryan Baumann then had the Lasers' fourth RBI single of the inning. After David Egan walked with the bases loaded, Ross Audet finished off the inning's scoring with a two RBI single, putting Lasell up 10-1. After the Bulldogs scored one run in the bottom of the fourth, the Lasers extended their lead with two runs in the seventh on Christopher Bulk's leadoff homer and an error. The Lasers won game one 12-2.

The Lasers offense came to play in game one, as the team collected 17 hits. Three different players in Bryan Baumann, Jared Whitby, and Ross Audet had three hits, while three more in CJ Mills, Connor Freitas, and Christopher Bulk each had two. Eight of the nine starters had an RBI, while eight of the nine starters also scored a run. Additionally, eight of the nine starters recorded a hit. On the mound, Matthew Fletcher started and went six innings. He allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out seven and walking just two. Jason Giagrande then pitched the seventh and allowed a hit and a walk before finishing off the game.

Game Two

After Dean got out to a 1-0 lead in the first, the Lasers responded with two in the second. The first on a Ross Audet double, who then scored on an Owen Caldwell RBI single. The Bulldogs then tied things up in the bottom of the inning, but the Lasers took the lead back in the third on a Matthew Bischof RBI double. The Lasers extended their lead in the fifth when two runs scored on an error. Dean then scored two in the fifth, and one in the sixth to tie things up at five. But the Lasers offense keep answering and retook the lead again in the seventh on a Jared Whitby RBI single. They then added three more in the eighth on a Tim Callahan RBI double, Connor Freitas sacrifice fly, and Bischof RBI single. Lasell would add one more on an error in the ninth before taking home the 10-5 victory.

The Lasers had 10 hits in game two, with Tim Callahan, Matthew Bischof, and Ross Audet each collecting two. The Lasers used four pitchers, starting with Darek Lallo, who went 4.2 innings, and allowed nine hits and four earned runs. He struck out two batters. He was relieved by Adam Marsh, who picked up the win by going 2.1 innings and allowing one earned run while striking out three. Tim Coakley and Ethan Bernardo each pitched an inning, with Bernardo striking out three.

Up Next - The Lasers will play a mid-week game at Bridgewater State on Tuesday, March 28th at 3:30pm.