Valentin, Cutone Homer in Doubleheader Drop to Bethel
The Lasell College baseball team suffered a sweep in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on Saturday, dropping 14-1 and 9-2 decisions to the Royals of Bethel University (Minn.) at Terry Park.
FORT MYERS, Fla. (3/18/17) -- The Lasell College baseball team suffered a sweep in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on Saturday, dropping 14-1 and 9-2 decisions to the Royals of Bethel University (Minn.) at Terry Park.
The Lasers slip to 3-6 on the season, while the Royals improve to 11-3.
Bethel scored eight straight runs over the first two innings of the opener before the Lasers scored their lone run on two hits in the third. After senior shortstop Hector Coscione (Newton, Mass.) and left fielder Brandon Valentin (Meriden, Conn.) notched back-to-back singles, right fielder Skylar Beckerman (Pensacola, Fla.) drove Coscione in from third with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Royals closed the game with runs in each of their last three innings at-bat, including two in the fourth.
The second game started on a similar note as Bethel jumped out to a seven-run lead through just two innings before the Lasers scored their only two single runs on solo home runs. Valentin and sophomore catcher Robert Cutone (Tewksbury, Mass.) posted leadoff homers to open the fourth and fifth innings.
Aside from the home runs, four other Lasers recorded hits in the nightcap. First baseman Dom Mascolo (Waterbury, Conn.) posted the only extra-base hit of the ballgame, hitting a sixth-inning double to center field.
Senior Matt Haskell (Wallingford, Conn.) relieved classmate Frank Zammarelli (Burrillville, R.I.) on the mound, allowing just two runs on six hits over the final 5.1 innings.
Both teams conclude their Florida swing on Sunday, March 19 at 9:00 a.m. as the Lasers face Augustana College (Ill.) and the Royals play Carroll University. Lasell's home opener is a doubleheader set for next Saturday, March 25 against Colby-Sawyer.
