Lasers Split with GNAC Preseason Favorite Emerson

BOSTON, MA- Lasell College softball stole the front end of a doubleheader from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) preseason favorites Emerson College, 12-8, on Sunday afternoon, before suffering their first GNAC loss in the nightcap, 5-1.

The Lions, who fell just three points shy of ranking in the NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll last week, were handed their first GNAC loss in the opening game by the Lasers who scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to lock in their victory.  Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, MA) pitched a complete game against the Lions, acquiring her fourth win of the season.  The game also marked the first time the Lasers have defeated the Lions during their three year stint with the GNAC.

Emerson scored first in the bottom of the first inning when Lynn Herman (Boca Raton, FL) scored off a base-hit by Nikki Battaglia (Freehold, NJ).  Lasell countered in the top of the second inning when Ashley Laramie (Lynn, MA) shot a homerun over the fence to even the score. 

Two runs in the fourth by the Lions restored the hosts lead, but Lasell responded with a five hit, seven run inning in the fifth.

Kerrie Starkey (Keene, NH) singled into right center and then scored, unearned, off an Emerson error which also allowed Talia DeChiara (Kingston, MA) to reach first base.  Laramie singled into center field to bring DeChiara home.  A two-rbi single by Michelle Torres (Waltham, MA) plated Laramie and Jacqueline Saluti (Braintree, MA).  A three-run homer belted by Kelly Silvia (Oaks Bluff, MA) drove in the remaining three runs of the inning.

Emerson fashioned five runs between the sixth and seventh innings to knot the score at 8-all, and force and extra frame.  Lasell out-scored Emerson 4-0 in the final inning to fasten the win.

Tricia Culver (Northampton, MA) scored the game winning run and Starkey, DeChiara, and Rachelle Haas (Middleton, MA) followed with insurance runs.

Laramie went 3-for-5 in the game with four RBI’s while also collecting 12 outs at first base.  Torres went 2-for-4 with two RBI’s and Silvia went 1-for-3 with three RBI’s, and one sacrifice hit.

In the nightcap, Emerson’s Bridget Farago (Oneota, NY) reached on an error and scored, unearned in the bottom of the first.  Battaglia scored on a Herman single to right center field, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead at the end of the inning. 

Lasell left five runners on base between the 1^st and 4^th inning but were unable to get on the scoreboard.  The Lions increased the distance between the teams with two additional runs in the fourth, when Brittany Martin (Las Vegas, NV) knocked a two-run homer. Emerson capped their scoring in the sixth when Jordan Newell (Palm City, FL) rounded the bases off a double by Farago into left center.

Haas launched a home run as the leadoff batter in the seventh inning, which would prove to be Lasell’s only run in the game.  The Lasers left one runner on base in the final inning.

Alison Saluti (Braintree, MA) was charged with the loss, yielding nine hits and four earned runs in six innings. Saluti fanned four Emerson batters in the shortfall.

Candace Hankard (Wakefield, MA) and Starkey went 2-for-3 in the second game.

Lasell (8-9-1) will face GNAC Foe Rivier College on Friday, April 2^nd at home.  The Raiders are currently 12-1 overall and undefeated at 6-0 in conference play.  The first of the two games will begin at 3:00 p.m.