Lasers Stay on top of GNAC with Double Win over Mustangs

Newton, Mass.-  The Lasers downed Mount Ida twice in GNAC softball action today on Taylor field.  The Lasers opened the double-header with a 12-3 win in just six innings, then closed the nightcap with a 10-2 victory in five innings.  The Lasers remain at the top of the GNAC standings with a 16-9 overall record, and a 9-1 conference mark, while the Mustangs have a 6-16 record, and stand at 4-8 in the GNAC.

Lasell's sophomore first baseman Ashley Laramie (Lynn, Mass.) had an impressive performance, going 3 for 4 in the first game, hitting a triple and a home run, with two RBI's, then slugging a second home run in the following game, brining in three more runs.  The Lasers also had fine showings from senior catcher Heather Lynch (Warwick, RI) who had four RBI's on two hits, both homeruns, and senior right fielder Tiffany Perla (Westminster, Mass.) who knocked in three, hitting two doubles, and scoring one run of her own.

Game one began with the Mustangs taking the lead 1-0 in the top of the first after Katie Lorenco (Mattapoisett, Mass.) was brought home by Kerri Kwasek (Framingham, Mass.) to earn the RBI. 

The Lasers did not respond until the second inning when they tied it up at one-all.  Kelly Barden (Quincy, Mass.) started things off with a double to center field.  Perla advanced Barden to third with a ground out to second, and Lasell's Tricia Culver (Northampton, Mass.) brought the run in with a base hit up the middle.

Mount Ida took the edge back in the third with Tracy Koukol (North Attleboro, Mass.) and Erica Bellivue (Tewksbury, Mass.) each hitting singles, and Koukol making the score. 

Lasell ran away with the game scoring five runs between the third and fourth innings.  Laramie's triple in the third scored Lynch while by Barden's second hit of the day sent Laramie to home plate.  In the fourth Lynch's three-run homer knocked in Kelly Silvia (Oaks Bluff, Mass.) and Culver to progress the lead to 6-2.

The Mustangs final run was scored unearned in the fifth once again by Koukol.  The Lasers knocked in six more runs to finish the game early in the sixth inning 12-3. 

Lasell's Jackie Loseff (Point Pleasant, NJ) started on the pitching hill to take the win, allowing three runs, three hits, and striking out four.  Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, Mass.) pitched two innings for the Lasers allowing one hit and striking out another to aid in closing out the victory.

The Lasers took an early lead in the second game, scoring three runs on two hits in the bottom of the first inning.  Lynch led off with a homerun over the center field fence to put the Lasers on the board.  Jackie Saluti (Braintree, Mass.) cracked another center field homer to up the Lasers advantage, then Barden scored the game winner as Culver earned the RBI to finish the inning 3-0.

Lauren Garnick (Boxford, Mass.) shot a double to center field in the second stanza sending two Mustangs around the bases to close the gap 3-2, but the Lasers answered with three more runs in the bottom of the frame off of Laramie's second homer of the day, then proceeded to run away with a 10-2 triumph in just five innings.

Mammola pitched four innings for the Lasers in the second game, allowing two hits, no runs, and retiring two batters. 

The Mustangs play again tomorrow, April 9^th against Simmons College on their home field.  The Lasers are playing  a doubleheader next on the road at Rivier College, on Friday, April 10^th, for a 4:00 p.m. start.