Baseball: Lasers' epic comeback falls short in 13-8 loss in 15 innings to Elms in GNAC first round

WALTHAM, Mass. - The fourth-seeded Lasell University baseball team embarked on an epic comeback Tuesday afternoon, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings during the first round of the GNAC Tournament, but fifth-seeded Elms earned a 13-8 triumph in 15 innings at Brandeis University's Stein Diamond.

The Lasers (17-22, 11-7 GNAC) were led by multi-hit performances by Ross Audet, Matthew Bischof, Matthew Paharik and Devon Lapierre, while Griffin Ferreira reached base three times, with two walks, one hit, two runs and one RBI. Freshman pitcher Vaun Larisa was phenomenal in a relief role, working seven innings and only giving up one run.

Leading the way for the Blazers (15-18, 8-10 GNAC) were George Chaya (4 of 8, 2 runs, RBI), Tyler Galenski (4 for 7, RBI, run, walk), and Seamus Higgins (4 of 5, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, double). Damon Wesley earned the win on the mound for Elms, as he worked the final 6 2/3 innings and did not give up a single earned run. He struck out seven, while allowing three hits and two walks.

Lasell sees its season come to an end, while Elms will compete in the next round of the GNAC Tournament. On Tuesday, the Blazers led the hits' category, 18-12, while each team made two errors.

The Lasers were staring at an 8-1 deficit entering the bottom of the ninth, but the unit responded with a sensational rally, putting a seven spot on the scoreboard. During the surge, CJ Mills, Bischof and Larisa tallied RBI singles, and then a two-out RBI walk with the bases loaded by Ferreira allowed the Lasers to even the game at 8-8 and force extra innings.

During the top of the 15th, Elms secured the win with a five-run inning. Higgins recorded a two-run double, AJ Cook connected on an RBI double, Cole Blades posted a sacrifice fly and Galenski ended the scoring with a one-run single down the right-field line.

Lasell turned three double plays in the game, while Ferreira threw out two runners at second base. During the top of the 14th, with two outs and a runner on third, Jordan Martinez made a superb diving stop on a ground ball up the middle and threw out the batter at first, keeping a run off the scoreboard.

The Blazers opened the scoring with a four-run effort in the third, and then an RBI ground out to second by Audet in the bottom half of the third allowed Ferreira to cross home and cut the Blazers' lead to 4-1. Elms extended its cushion to 5-1 in the sixth on an RBI single up the middle by Higgins, and then a three-run shot to right-center by Justin Miller extended the visitors' lead to 8-1 during the seventh. 

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

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