Loseff Shuts Out Blue Jays in Game 1; Lasers Stay Unbeaten in GNAC

Lasell's Jackie Loseff (Point Pleasant, NJ) struck out nine and allowed no runs as the Lasers took a 3-0 win in game one over Saint Joseph's College (CT) this afternoon, on Taylor Field.  In the second match of the day, Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, Mass.) took the 5-1 win, striking out 5 with one unearned run, as the Lasers swept the day, and remained unbeated in the GNAC (4-0).

Loseff pitched a quick inning getting the first two batters out on fly balls.  The Blue Jay's Michelle Lynch (Ludlow, Mass.) singled to left field to get on base, but the Lasers caught her stealing in the next play with Heather Lynch (Warwick, RI) throwing a perfect pass to Kelly Silvia (Oaks Bluff, Mass.) at second to end the inning.

The Lasers came up on top in the second when Lynch sent a hard double to right field to get on base. Lynch was sent home with a beauty of a hit by Jackie Saluti (Braintree, Mass.) who knocked a double over St. Joe's centerfielder to give Lasell a 1-0 lead at the bottom of the first.

Monica Lynch (Ludlow, Mass.) singled through the left side to lead off in the second for St. Joe's.  However, Lasell's Heather Rose (West Roxbury, Mass.) got the put out on Lynch in the following play unassisted when Sara Dudley (Dover, NH) connected to get on base on a fielders choice. Loseff retired the next two Blue Jays to keep the Lasers advantage.

Michelle Torres (Waltham, Mass.) sent a crack to center field for a two base hit leading off the bottom of the second for Lasell, then rounded home as Silvia earned the RBI with her first at bat.

The third inning put the Blue Jays in position to score as Hope Kelley (Gloucester, Mass.) singled and Susie Waters (Wrenthem, Mass.) bunted to earn a base.  Both advanced on a passed ball to get into scoring position. After Loseff struck out her third of the day she got out of the inning safely with no runs assisting on the play at first for the final out, leaving two on base.

To score the Lasers final run, Lasell's Lynch hammered one out of the park, her second home run of the year, to give Lasell a 3-0 cushion in the third. 

The fourth and fifth were quick innings with no scoring by either team.  Loseff struck out the two lead off batters in the sixth, with Lynch making the third out catching a pop-up over home plate. The Blue Jays also had a one, two, three bottom of the sixth fielding three fast outs.

St. Joseph's got the tying runs on with one out in the seventh.  Staying cool under the pressure of bases loaded, Loseff retired the next two batters to take the GNAC victory, 3-0.

The Blue Jays looked to jump out ahead in the second game, but the Lasers prevented St. Joe's from scoring the opening run in the first with a great play to end the inning.  Monica Lynch hit a double to right field sending Michelle Lynch around the bases en route to score.  However, Tricia Culver (Northampton, Mass.) fired the ball into Rose as the cutoff, who sent quickly passed it along to Lynch to tag the runner out at home.

Saluti scored in the first inning after singling to left field then stealing second.  Lynch walked and both batters advanced on a wild pitch, with Saluti rounding two bases and scoring for Lasell.  Ashley Laramie (Lynn, Mass.) clocked a double to send Lynch home.  Lasell enjoyed a 2-0 lead at the finally of the first period.

Lasell grabbed three more runs in the second inning as Perla, Mammola, and Rose each got base hits, with Rose earning an RBI as Perla scored.  Saluti then doubled down the left field line, knocking in both Mammola and Rose for the 5-0 edge.

Top of the fifth, Lasers up 5-0.  The Blue Jays Heather Tworzydlo (Dayville, Conn.) got on base after a Laser error and scored when Melanie Bush (Bristol, Conn.) got a two base hit and the RBI.  Lasell stopped the Blue Jays from further scoring with a catch by Culver in center field. The bottom of the frame was a quick three Laser outs.  

Lasell defended their lead in the sixth by making smart plays to stop the Blue Jays from advancing.  Rose caught an infield fly for the first out, then Mammola made the field play on the mound to get an out at second base.   Amy Doyle (Kingston, Mass.) made the final out in right field.  Another scoreless inning passed for the Lasers as they faced the final period.

Mammola struck out her first batter in the seventh. After a base hit by Nettie Marciano (South Winsor, Conn.) the Lasers picked up their second out on a fielders choice to second base, leaving a runner on first.  Kelly Barden (Quincy, Mass.) made the final play of the game fielding a ground ball and throwing to Saluti at first.

The Lasers are now 9-7 overall this season, while the Blue Jays end the day at an even 5-5.

Lasell is back in action on Tuesday, March 31st at Umass Boston, at 3:00 p.m.