Baseball Improves GNAC Record with Sweep over Anna Maria

Waltham, Mass. (4/16/15) – The Lasell College baseball team swept Anna Maria by scores of 5-2 and 7-2 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader Thursday evening at Stein Field on the campus of Brandeis University. With the wins, the Lasers advance to 12-13 overall and 8-4 in the GNAC, while the AMCATS drop to 7-17 this spring and 2-10 in conference play.

Game One- Lasell: 5 Anna Maria: 2 

Senior Matt Sammarco (New Canaan, Conn.) led the Lasers with two RBI's and a double on a 3-for-4 performance, while junior Dan Gagnon (Pomfret Center, Conn.) contributed with a triple and an RBI. Senior Aj McKenzie (Pasadena, Md.) went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, scoring one run.

Freshman Nate Frederick (Worcester, Mass.) led the AMCATS in game one, going 1-for-2 on the day, while recording his fourth home run of the year. Senior Corey Andrade (Mashpee, Mass.) drove in a run for the visitors on a 1-for-2 performance, while freshman Nate Gray (Kingston, N.Y.), freshman Jourdon Wydra (Bristol, Conn.) and senior David Julian (Sterling, Mass.) each contributed with a single hit. 

Nate Frederick dominated the leadoff spot for the AMCATS, swinging into a first-pitch long shot over the left field fence to give Anna Maria the 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Lasers' McKenzie advanced runners to second and third via a sacrifice bunt, where Gagnon took first base on an error by the right fielder to score Lasell's first run of the game. Gagnon sprinted across the field to steal second on the next play, where a failed attempt at the out by the catcher sent freshman Jesse Tejero (West Haven, Conn.) home. With Gagnon in scoring position, Sammarco hit a deep double to left field to give the Lasers the 3-1 lead.

The AMCATS were quick to respond in the next inning, where Andrade singled through the middle to score Gray on the play. However, the visitors' efforts would pan out to be unjustified, as the Lasers packed in two runs in the bottom of the sixth via an RBI from Gagnon and Sammarco to end game one of the twinbill 5-2.

Freshman Greg Sherman (Marshfield, Mass.) pitched a full seven innings for the Lasers, earning his fourth win of the season (4-1) with seven strikeouts, five hits and two earned runs. Nate Frederick (2-4) suffered the loss for the visitors, pitching 5.1 innings with eight scattered hits, four walks, and three earned runs.

Game Two- Lasell: 7 Anna Maria: 2

Gagnon and McKenzie continued a strong hitting performance for the Lasers in game two, joined by junior Wes Hurty (Windsor, Conn.), who each knocked in a pair of runs. Junior Skylar Beckerman (Pensacola, Fla.), freshman Dom Mascolo (Waterbury, Conn.) and Tejero each swung into a single for the hosts. 

Junior Matthew Leahy (Rutland, Mass.) went 2-for-3 in game two, while Nate Frederick went 1-for-3 with a double and Andrade drove in a single run.

After an unearned run scored by McKenzie put the Lasers up 1-0, Hurty reached first on a fielder's choice to bring in Sammarco, extending the lead 2-0. Mascolo then led off the second inning with a single up the middle and was brought home via a hit by McKenzie. 

Down 3-0 in the top of the fifth, Anna Maria began to chip away at the deficit. Leahey stepped up to the plate as the second batter and swung into a single, later sprinting across the field to score third base. With two outs, senior Michael Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) reached first on a dropped fly ball by the Lasers' right fielder, which sent Leahey flying home. The visitors cut the score to 3-2 in the next inning, where Nate Frederick roped a double to advance sophomore Joseph Fahey (Auburn, Mass.) to third. Andrade cracked a single to left, where Fahey scored on the play.

With one out to go and the Lasers only leading by one (3-2), Gagnon took the plate in the sixth and cranked a deep single to left, driving in Tejero and Beckerman for a pair of insurance runs. McKenzie singled on the next play to drive in the sixth run, where Hurty flied out to right on the sacrifice to seal the deal for the Lasers, 7-2.

Freshman Josh Bahnick (Clinton, Mass.) tossed a full game with four strikeouts, six hits and just one earned run. Freshman Tanner Jakola (Leominster, Mass.) took the loss on the hill for Anna Maria with three scattered hits, three runs and four walks in five innings pitched.

Both teams resume GNAC twin bill action on Saturday, April 18 at 12:00 p.m. The Lasers will travel to Albertus Magnus College, while the AMCATS host Rivier University.