Emerson Pulls Away from Lasers for two GNAC Wins

Newton, Mass.-  In a rescheduled doubleheader matchup between two of the top teams in  GNAC softball, Emerson College was victorious twice over the Lasell College Lasers.  The Lasers took an early lead in game one, but the Lions returned in full force in the third inning, mounting a 10-2 win.  The Lasers tied game two in the second inning, but the Lions rallied for four runs late to make it 5-2 in seven innings.

Freshman pitcher Kelsey Tuthill (Middlefield, Conn.) got the start on the mound for the Lions, taking the win in five innings with six strikeouts.  However, it was the Lasers who scored first in the bottom of the second to get on top of Tuthill and the Lions.

Michelle Torres (Waltham, Mass.) struck a two-base knock down the left field line to lead off the Lasers in the second, and Kerrie Starkey (Keene, NH) shot a singled to Tuthill which sent Torres home. 

However, the Lions returned the favor in the third as Kendal Pieguss (Suquamish, WA) doubled through right center and Brittany Martin (Las Vegas, NV) singled to the Lasers third baseman.  A three run homer by Sierra Wood (Torrance, CA) over the left center fence gave Emerson the lead.  

The Lions kept scoring, grabbing seven more runs by the end of their at-bats in the sixth.  Lasell scored just once more in the fourth inning, once again by Torres.  After doubling to center field, Torres was brought in by Talia DeChiaria (Kinston, Mass.) who also blasted a two-base hit to center field.

Emerson carried over their momentum from the first game into the second, opening the first inning 1-0 as Pieguss hit an RBI single to right field sending Bridget Farago (Oneonta, NY) around home.

Lasell's DeChiaria scored on an error by Emerson's third baseman to tie up the game in the second.  The impasse did not last long though as the Lions scored two more runs on three hits in the third giving them a satisfactory 3-1 edge.

Both teams were held without a run for the next two innings, but the Lions gave up a second run in the sixth to Lasell.

Heather Rose (West Roxbury, Mass.) hit a single then advanced to second on a Jackie Saluti (Braintree, Mass.) one-base-knock.  Rose stole third to get an advantage to home plate, and another DeChiaria base hit brought Rose home. 

Unfortunately for the Lasers, Lasell did not score again, whereas Emerson brought two more home in the seventh to finish 5-2.

Sara Murray (Auburn, NH) took the W as the pitcher in the second game, while Tuthill stepped in for 1.2 innings, striking out four and taking the save.

The Lions remain at the top of the GNAC after the contest, boasting a 19-3 GNAC slate.  Lasell falls to 13-7 GNAC, and 20-15 overall.