Lasers Split Twin Bill with Wildcats

PROVIDENCE, RI- On Saturday, the Lasell College softball team split a conference doubleheader at Johnson & Wales University, taking game one 3-1 in nine innings, and then getting inched out in game two after a walk-off double sealed the game for the Wildcats in eight innings, 1-0.

The first game was scoreless through the ninth inning, during which time the Lasers produced just one hit by Candace Hankard (Wakefield, MA) in the 4th inning, and two total walks.  Alison Saluti (Braintree, MA) pitched the shutout through eight innings, giving up eight hits in those frames. 

In the ninth, Kelly Silvia (Oak Bluffs, MA) was placed on second to start the extra inning and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jaqueline Saluti (Braintree, MA) pinch hit for Lasell, reaching base on a fielder's choice which put two on as Talia DeChiara (Kingston, MA) stepped up to bat.  DeChiara sliced a triple into right center field which scored both previous runners and put Lasell on top 2-0.  Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, MA) brought DeChiara in for Lasell's final run on a fielder's choice.

The Wildcats scored just once in the bottom of the frame, unearned, and Lasell walked away with the victory. 

Alison Saluti pitched a complete game with six strikeouts, relinquishing no earned runs on 10 hits and one walk. 

In game two, Lasell was shutout 1-0 in the bottom of the eighth when Robyn Zeigler (Doylestown, PA) doubled to right field for a walk-off hit which scored Amanda-Rae Sullivan (East Granby, CT).  That would be the only run scored in the game

Lasell got one hit each from Hankard and Jaqueline Saluti, while Santina Antoshak (Closter, NJ) went 2-for-3.  Hankard got the first Lasell hit in the 4th, following by a Saluti knock up the middle in the third. Saluti was advanced to third base by Antoshak on her first hit, but the go-ahead run was stranded at third at the end of the inning. 

In the 8th, Saluti was placed on second base to start the extra frame and was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kerrie Starkey (Keene, NH).  Antoshak singled to second but the inning ended once again without runs scored.

Mammola was hit with the loss in 7.1 innings, rendering just five hits and one earned run in the final inning, while retiring three Wildcats on strikes alone.

Lasell will face Emmanuel College on the road on Sunday, April 10th, with a noon start time.