Baseball: Lasers earn 6-3 win in Game 1 at Johnson & Wales in doubleheader split

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - CJ Mills, Matthew Bischof and Jordan Martinez recorded multi-hit performances for the Lasell University baseball team during a 6-3 triumph in Game 1 Sunday at Great Northeast Athletic Conference-rival Johnson & Wales, and then the Wildcats responded with a 13-0 triumph during the second game.

"Game 1, we executed at a high level and had strong pitching from Chris O'Connor and Vaun Larisa," said Lasell University Baseball Head Coach Billy Uberti. "Game 2, we did no do anything right. We have to learn from it and bounce back."

O'Connor earned the win on the mound in the first game for the Lasers (9-12, 6-2 GNAC), giving up only one earned run in five innings. He struck out five and did not walk a single batter. Larisa earned the save, working the final two innings and did not allow anyone to reach base. Starting pitcher Justin Markell threw a two-hitter in Game 2 for the Wildcats (7-18, 6-4 GNAC).

Game 1 (Lasell 6, Johnson & Wales 3):

The Lasers held a 10-4 lead in hits and seven different players recorded at least one hit. Lasell was led by Mills (2 of 5, run), Bischof (2 of 4, 2 RBIs) and Martinez (2 for 4, run). O'Connor earned his third win of the season on the mound and Larisa collected his second save. Both teams made two errors in the game.

The Lasers opened the scoring with a two-run third inning, as a one-run, one-out single to right by Bischof put the unit in front, 2-0. The Wildcats evened the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth as a result of a two-run single to right by Nicolas Fortes.

The visitors took the lead for good in the fifth, building a 4-2 advantage. Bischof tallied a one-run single to center, and then Ross Audet crossed home on a passed ball. Bryan Baumann pushed the Lasers' advantage to 5-2 on an RBI double to left in the sixth.

After the Wildcats cut the lead to two in the bottom half of the sixth, Lasell ended the scoring in the top half of the seventh, as Devon Lapierre drew an RBI walk with the bases loaded, allowing Larisa to trot across home.

Game 2 (Johnson & Wales 13, Lasell 0):

Xavier Botelho led the way for the Wildcats, finishing 4-for-5 batting, with three RBIs and one run, as Johnson & Wales led the hits' category, 15-2. Martinez and Larisa each tallied one hit for the Lasers.

The game was scoreless through two-and-a-half innings, and then the hosts put a four spot on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. The rally consisted of RBI doubles from Trevor Juan and Griffin Snyder and one-run singles by Botelho and Cody Pfeifer.

The Wildcats built a 6-0 advantage in the fourth on a one-run double to right by Riley Hasson and a one-run single to center by Botelho. Johnson & Wales added three more runs in the fifth and another four in the sixth to secure the win.

Up Next:

The Lasers will play a GNAC doubleheader against Dean Monday at Brandeis University's Stein Diamond in Waltham, Massachusetts. Game times are set for 3 and 5:30 p.m.

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

-

For continuing coverage of Laser athletics, stay up to date with our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.