BSB: Bats Stay Hot as Lasers Steamroll Cadets
Northfield, VT - The Lasell Lasers baseball team continued their winning ways, defeating the Norwich Cadets in both games of their conference doubleheader, winning game one 10-8 and game two 15-4. The Lasers are now 16-10 on the season, and 11-1 in GNAC play. The Cadets are now 8-18 and 2-9. The Lasers sit in first place in the conference, with a two-game lead on JWU and Anna Maria. The Lasers will host JWU later this week in a two-game set that could determine who hosts the GNAC Baseball Tournament in May.
Game Two
The Lasers got on the board in the first, scoring a run on an error. They later doubled their lead in the third on a Bryan Baumann RBI double. The Cadets would respond in the fourth, scoring three runs on a double and another two on a HR to go up 5-2. But that deficit proved to be nothing for the Lasers, as they put up a big inning in the fifth, something that has become old habit to them They scored eight runs, all of which came after the first two batters got out. Connor Freitas started the two out rally with a single. Matthew Bischof and Ross Audet then hit back-to-back RBI doubles to make it 5-4. Two runs then scored on an error to give Lasell the 6-5 lead. The big hit of the inning came off the bat of Matthew Paharik, as he launched a ball over the wall, scoring three runs on the homer. The final run scored on a wild pitch to put the Lasers up 10-5. The Cadets did not go away quietly though, as they scored a run in the bottom half of the fifth, and then two more in the seventh to make it 10-8. They had the winning run on first with just one out, but the Lasers were able to get out of it and escape with the win.
Eight of the Lasers' nine starters recorded a hit, with Tim Callahan, Bryan Baumann, and Ross Audet each recording two. All nine starters scored a run, with Callahan scoring two. Brendan Zaleski started on the mound and went 3.2 innings, allowing four hits and five runs. He struck out two. He was relieved by Jason Giangrande who picked up the win by going 1.1 innings, and allowing two hits and a run. He struck out two. Tim Coakley was next out of the bullpen, and he went 1.1 innings, allowing three hits and two runs, one of which was earned. Ethan Bernardo came in for the save, and converted it by going 0.2 innings. It was his third save of the season.
Game Two
The Lasers scored in bunches in game two, putting up a crooked number five times. They started in the first. After Tim Callahan led the game off with a single, Bryan Baumann sent a pitch over the fence in left field to put the Lasers up 2-0. The Cadets would tie things up by scoring runs in the first and third, but the Lasers would not let things stay that way for long. After a walk and two singles loaded the bases for the Lasers, Matthew Bischof walked to send a run in. Ross Audet was up next, and he singled home two more runs to put the Lasers up 5-2. The Lasers put up three more runs in the next inning, as Tim Callahan, Bryan Baumann, and Connor Freitas each had RBI singles. The Cadets scored twice in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-4. After a scoreless sixth, the Lasers really started to pour it on, scoring five times in the seventh. The first run scored on a wild pitch, while the second came in on a Connor Freitas RBI single. The other three runs scored on an error, a sacrifice fly, and another wild pitch. The Lasers would add two more runs in the ninth on a Pierce Clare RBI single and a Matthew Paharik RBI double.
The Lasers recorded 16 hits in this game, with all seven hitters who recorded a hit having at least two. Tim Callahan and Bryan Baumann each had three, while Connor Freitas, Matthew Bischof, Pierce Clare, Ross Audet, and Matthew Paharik each had two. Bischof's single in the seventh inning was the 100th hit of his career. All seven of those players also recorded at least one RBI. The Lasers also showed great plate discipline, walking a school record 13 times as a team. Jared Whitby and Pierce Clare each walked three times. Tim Callahan and Bryan Baumann each scored four runs, with Callahan now having 40 runs scored on the season, breaking the school record previously held by Hector Coscione, who had 38 in 2017.
On the mound it was a two-man effort, as Jeremy Blackwood started and picked up the win by going 4.2 innings. He allowed seven hits and four runs, with only two of them being earned. He struck out one batter. He was relieved by Darak Lallo who picked up a save by pitching the last 4.1 innings. He allowed just two hits and struck out five.
The Lasers are now 12-0 on the season when scoring at least 10 runs.
Up Next - The Lasers will host Lesley on Monday, April 17th at 11am at Brandeis.