Lasers Pick Up a Pair of Wins Over Rams; Remain Perfect in GNAC

NEWTON, MA-- The Lasell College softball team picked up a pair of wins over the Suffolk University Rams on Saturday afternoon to remain perfect in Great Northeast Athletic Conference competition (4-0) so far this season.

In the first game, Suffolk went ahead 6-0 in the top of the second before the Lasers rallied for eight runs to take the lead in the bottom of the third.  The Rams evened the score at 8-8 in the top of the fourth, but Lasell regained control with three runs in the later part of the frame.  A six run sixth inning for Lasell sealed the Lasers, 17-12 victory, in seven innings, with Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, MA) earning the win.

Mammola started and pitched 2 and 2/3 innings, striking out four Ram batters. Nicole Slader (Harrisville, RI) relieved Mammola in the third and fanned two additional batters to secure the Lasers triumph.

 Lasell’s senior outfielder Tricia Culver (Northampton, MA) had an outstanding game, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs and five RBI’s.  The centerfielder also had two double’s, one walk and one out in the field.

Lasell also had three hits, on five attempts, from senior Kelly Barden (Quincy, MA).  Barden also added three runs and brought in two runners. Junior infielder Ashley Laramie (Lynn, MA) went 3-4 on offense, chipping in with three runs, one RBI, and six putouts.

For Suffolk, Clara Conklin (Haverhill, NH) had a big day at bat, making five hits in five times at the plate, including two doubles and two home runs. Conklin also batted in five runs and made one out in right field.

Valerie Liberatore (Chelsea, MA) went 4-for-5, with two doubles, three runs, and one RBI and Cali Loura (Farmington, CT) went 3-for-5, with two runs, one double, one RBI, and one stolen base.

In the second of the GNAC contests, Lasell got on the board early, 1-0, in the first as Rachelle Haas (Middleton, MA) reached on a Ram error and Barden sacrificed herself to bring Haas home.

Suffolk’s Ashley Gaboriault (Worcester, MA) scored on a wild pitch in the third to knot the score at one-all. The Rams then took the lead in the fourth when Karina Bolster (Carlisle, PA) tripled into right field and then scored on another wild pitch.

Seven unanswered runs by Lasell produced the 8-2 victory.  Alison Saluti (Braintree, MA) struck out seven Rams en route to her fourth season victory (4-3).  Saluti pitched the complete game, giving up six hits and two runs.

Barden was two-for-four at the plate with two RBI’s. Kelly Silvia (Oaks Bluff, MA) had one hit, one run, and brought in two runners with a two-RBI double to right center field, and Talia DeChiara (Kingston, MA) went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI’s.

The Lasers’ softball team (8-8-1) will travel to Emerson on Sunday, March 28, for a doubleheader with the Lions to begin at noon.