Lasers Fall Twice to Brandeis on Opening Day at Home

Newton, Mass.-  Brandeis University took both games in a double-header with the Lasell College softball team on the Lasers opening day at Taylor Field, on Tuesday.  The Judges stole a 3-2 victory in the first game out from under the Lasers and then ran away with an 8-3 game in the second.

After a 1, 2, 3, top of the first with Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, Mass.) on the mound for the Lasers, Lasell began their at bats with two runs to jump out on top of the Judges.  Tiffany Perla (Westminster, Mass.) singled to center field, followed by another base hit by Heather Rose (West Roxbury, Mass.) to get two runners on for Lasell.  Jackie Saluti (Braintree, Mass.) and Heather Lynch (Warwick, RI) each grounded out to advance the runners, with Lynch earning an RBI on Perla's score. Rose stole home on the next play to give Lasell a two run edge early in the first.

Lasell held Brandeis scoreless in no-hit innings until the top of the fourth when they sent home three runners on two hits.  Samanthan Gajewski (Elkridge, MD) came around after hitting a single to center field, followed by Lara Hirschler (Bellmore, NY)  doubling, also sending home Marianne Specker (S. Windsor, Conn.) to earn two rbi's.  The three runs were all the Judges needed to finish the game as neither team score from that point on.

Mammola pitched a fine seven innings on the mound for the Lasers, striking out one. Tricia Culver (Northampton, Mass.) had a base hit in the second and Kelly Barden (Quincy, Mass.) and Lynch each singled in the bottom of the fourth and sixth respectively, but the Lasers did not bring another runner home.

In the second game, the Lasers gave up six runs and eight hits in the first two innings to dig themselves into an early deficit.  Jennie Beaton (Reading, Mass.) stepped into the diamond in the second for Lasell to pitch more than five innings allowing just four hits and two runs the rest of the way, but it the Lasers could not form a full comeback.

Lynch started a rally for the Lasers in the bottom of the third inning with a two run homer, bringing in herself and Rose.  Ashley Laramie (Lynn, Mass.) singled to get on base, and was in scoring position with two outs, however the inning ended before she could count the run.

Both teams scored in the fifth as Brandeis' Carly Schmand (Bethesda, MD) pinch ran for the Judges and put them up 7-2. Lasell's Amy Doyle (Kingston, Mass.) stepped in for Rose after she singled to left field and was batted in by Barden in the play. Brandies scored one final time in the when Allie Mussen (Franklin Square, NY) was batted in by Erin Thorn (Perkasie,PA) in the top of the seventh.

Lasell had additional base hits by Perla, Lynch, and Culver in the contest.  Both Jackie Loseff (Point Pleasant, NJ) and Beaton struck out one batter a piece for Lasell.

The Lasers begin GNAC competition this Friday, March 27^th at Johnson & Wales University in a double-header starting at 3:00 p.m.