Emerson takes Game One of Doubleheader vs. Lasell

Waltham, MA- Emerson College had a five run seventh inning leading them to a 8-3 win over the Lasers today at Brandeis University in the first game of the GNAC doubleheader.

The first inning was quick for both teams, each grabbing hits but neither team scoring. 

The first half of the second was the same quick at bat for the Lions, conversely, the Lasers got on the board with just three hits.  Mike Mahoney (Rockland, Mass.) and Mike Grenier (Fitchburg, Mass.) each singled through the middle to put the scoring runs on the bags.  Patrick Girard (Stonington, Conn.) smashed a double over Emerson's centerfielders head to earn two RBI's and give Lasell the advantage.

Emerson scored their first run in the third with a sacrifice fly out to center by Peter Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) sending Austin Fontanella (Pelham, NH) into home plate. The Lasers got the final two outs with the next two batters as Rich Balgowan (Hamilton, NJ) struck out the following Lion and Conor Cavanaugh (Quincy, Mass.) caught fly out in center.

 The Lasers held a 2-1 advantage until the top of the fifth when Emerson evened out the scoreboard to 2-all.  Adam Speakman (Barrington, RI) hit a line drive into left center to bring Zak Levine (Beverly, Mass.) around the bags with no outs.  Karl then drove in the go-ahead run with his second sac of the game.  The Lasers ended the half inning down 3-2.

Emerson got themselves out of the sixth unscathed with a final out at home as the tying run came around the bags.  Fontanella shot the ball from centerfield to the cutoff and into the catcher Geoff Lopes (East Falmouth, Mass.) to get the final out and prevent Lasell from evening out the score.

Matt Pitts (Stoneham, Mass.) relieved Balgowan in the seventh.  Balgowan left allowing five hits and three runs while retiring one. 

Emerson came alive as Fontanella pushed for a single down the middle earning two RBI's.  Fontanella then scored on a Karl double which struck down the right field line giving the Lions a 6-2 comfortable lead.

Karl then increased the Lasers deficit stealing third and capitalizing on a Laser error to go home. A Kitson single between second and third brought home Ryan Garber (Holmdel, NJ) for the eighth Lion run.

Senior pitcher Nick Guzman (Worcester, Mass.) stepped in to get the Lasers second out as Lasell's defense picked up the fly ball, and struck out his second batter looking for the third out.

In the Lasers final at bat, Grenier led off singling past Emerson's second baseman on the first pitch of the inning.  Unfortunately for the Lasers, the next play Emerson turned the double play to get ahead with two outs and no one left on base. 

Lasell fought to stay in the game with Sean Ruderman (Pittsfield, Mass.) walking and Junior Veiga (Randolph, Mass.) singling into left field. Matt Mahoney (Rockland, Mass.) notched an RBI single to score Ruderman, but Veiga was caught between second and third for the final out.

Karl got the win for Emerson, pitching seven complete innings, letting up 8 hits, three runs and striking out four in the 8-3 win.