Baseball: Lasers suffer two setbacks to University of Pittsburgh-Bradford

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Freshman Vaun Larisa of the Lasell University baseball team went a combined 5-of-7 batting, with one RBI and one run, during a pair of losses to the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford Sunday on the spring-break trip.

Sophomore Ross Audet finished the day 3 of 8, with two runs, for the Lasers (0-3). Freshman Jordan Martinez went 2 for 6, with two RBIs and one run. During Game 2, sophomore Tim Coakley did not allow a hit in a relief-pitching role during the fifth, and then junior Joey Rego threw the final 1 2/3 innings, not allowing one batter to reach base and tallying two strikeouts.

During the doubleheader, Martinez, Larisa and fellow freshmen Griffin Ferreira and Pierce Clare recorded their first collegiate hits.

Jake McNabb (3 of 7, 2 runs) and Noah Meyers (2 of 5, 2 runs, RBI, walk) led the way for the Panthers (6-6). Bret Babcock posted a strong second game for Pitt-Bradford, finishing 2 of 3, with two RBIs and one run. 

Game 1 (Pitt-Bradford 5, Lasell 3):

A two-run single with two outs in the top of the second by Martinez gave Lasell an early 2-0 advantage. The Panthers responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 3-2 lead.

During the top of the third, Audet tallied a one-out infield single, and then scored two at-bats later on an RBI single through the left side by Ferreira, knotting the game at 3-3. 

Pitt-Bradford took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. McNabb led off with a double to right, and then during the ensuing at-bat, Justin Dattoli connected on the game-winning RBI single up the middle. A one-run double to center in the bottom of the sixth by Andrew Bokulich ended the scoring and gave the Panthers a 5-3 victory.

Kyler Majka earned the win on the mound for Pitt-Bradford, working six innings and giving up three runs, with only one being earned. He struck out seven and walked one, while allowing six hits. Shawn Mannering retired the side in order during the seventh to earn the save for the Panthers. Pitt-Bradford held a 7-6 lead in hits, while the Lasers made two errors and the Panthers had one miscue. 

Game 2 (Pitt-Bradford 6, Lasell 3):

During the bottom of the third, Martinez posted a leadoff single and scored on a one-run single to center by Larisa three batters later, giving Lasell a 1-0 lead. A two-out, one run-single by Babcock in the top of the fourth for the Panthers tied the game at 1-1.

Audet and Larisa scored unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth, putting the Lasers in front, 3-1. Pitt-Bradford secured the win with a five-run output in the sixth, featuring a grand slam by Maxwell Rogers and a one-run single by Babcock.

Alex Miles earned the complete-game win for the Panthers, giving up three runs and one earned in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked one. Each team recorded seven hits, while Pitt-Bradford made three errors and Lasell had one miscue.

Up Next:

The Lasers will compete against Defiance in a doubleheader Monday with game times set for 9 a.m and noon in Fort Myers, Florida.

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

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