Lasers Split Double Dip Against SVC

Fort Myers, Fla. (3/22/13) – The Lasell College baseball team split a doubleheader with the Mountaineers of Southern Vermont College, dropping the first game 6-4 and picking up the win in the second game 6-1. The Mountaineers move to 4-6 on the 2013 campaign, and Lasell is now 3-6 on the season.

Game 1

Southern Vermont College defeated Lasell 6-4 in the first game between the two schools.

Lasell's Bobby Ellard (Medfield, Mass.) was 2 for 3 in the game with two runs scored, and Matt Sammarco (New Canaan, Conn.) went 1 for 3 with a run batted in and run scored. Dustin Brown (Falmouth, Mass.) finished 1 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. Kevin Post (Cromwell, Conn.) gave up four earned runs on six hits and two walks, striking out four Mountaineer hitters. Junior reliever Eric Howard (Newton, Mass.) surrendered just one run, unearned, on three hits in his three innings of work, fanning three SVC hitters.

Southern Vermont's Corey Armstrong went 3 for 4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored, and Cody LaBadia (Howes Caves, N.Y.) was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Quinten Scott (Ashaway, R.I.) also had two RBIs on his 1 for 2 day. Eric Johansen finished his 6.2 innings with four earned runs given up on 10 hits and one walk; he struck out one batter on the day.

After a scoreless first inning, Southern Vermont came out in the second and put up a pair runs with the help of an RBI double by Cody LaBadia and a run scoring groundout by Quinten Scott to put the Mountaineers ahead 2-0.

Southern Vermont came back with three more in the top of the third as the SVC heart of the order came through again. The first two Mountaineer hitters reached base before coming around to score on a base hit by Armstrong to put SVC on top 4-0. The Mountaineers tacked on their third run of the inning when a LaBadia double knocked in Armstrong.

The Lasers got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Bobby Ellard singled and scored on a RBI groundout by Matt Sammarco.

The top of the sixth saw SVC increase its lead as Chris Nicastro reached on an error and scored on a savrifice fly by Scott.

After the Mountaineers were retired in the top of the seventh, the Lasers clawed their way back into the game. Lasell loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk with two outs before Dustin Brown (Falmouth, Mass.) cleared the bases with double to left field pulling the Lasers back within reach at 6-4. SVC reliever Joel DeFedele (North Kingstown, R.I.) was brought on to get the final out, and succeeded in inducing a game-ending flyout.

Erik Johansen picked up his first collegiate win, improving to 1-1 on the season while DeFedele recorded his second save of the season. Lasell sophomore right-hander Kevin Post is credited with the loss (0-2).

Game 2

Lasell bounced back to pick up a 6-1 victory over SVC in the second game of the double dip, rapping out 11 hits and getting a strong pitching performance from Matti Doxter (Somersworth, N.H.) to earn the win.

Billy Uberti (Newton, Mass.) finished with three hits in the game, including a double and a home run, driving in a run and scoring twice. Bobby Stachura (Middletown, Conn.) finished with three singles scoring once and driving in a run. Jackson Gervais (Rehoboth, Mass.) had a single and a double while knocking in a pair of runs. Matti Doxter earned the victory, throwing all seven innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking out two and whiffing four in the game.

Corey Briggs finished 1 for 3 driving in the lone SVC run, and Corey Armstrong was 1 for 2 with a single, walk and a run scored. Dave Northrup took the loss on the hill for the Mountaineers, allowing five runs, three earned in four and a third innings of work while walking three and striking out four.

Lasell threatened in the top half of the first inning when they loaded the bases on singles by Uberti and Stachura and a walk by Rob Madden, but were unable to push any runners across.

Southern Vermont got on the board first in the bottom of the second when a Corey Briggs single scored Armstrong giving SVC the 1-0 advantage.

Both hurlers shut down their oppositions bats through the next two innings, leaving the Mountaineers on top 1-0 heading into the top of the fifth inning.

The Lasers got things started with a lead-off walk to Evan Mozingo (Brookfield, Conn.) and when Uberti followed with a double, Lasell had runners on second and third and nobody out. Dustin Brown reached on an error that allowed Mozingo to score, tying the game. Stachura knocked in Uberti with an infield single, before coming around to score on a hit Corey Michel (Rochester, N.H.). Lasell plated two more came on a single by Jackson Gervais (Rehoboth, Mass.)  putting the Lasers ahead 5-1.

Lasell added an little extra insurance in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Uberti, and Doxter did the rest closing out the 6-1 victory.

The Mountaineers return back to the Northeast for a 3:30 p.m. Tuesday game at Gordon College and then play their home-opener Wednesday at 3 p.m. against Norwich University. Lasell continues its spring trip in Ft. Myers on Friday at 9 a.m. against Otterbein University.