Emerson Sits Atop the GNAC Standings after a Pair of Wins over Lasell

NEWTON, MA- On Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field, Emerson College swept a pair of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contests against Lasell College softball, 11-1 and 9-1, in five innings.   The Lions, whom are currently ranked 1^st in the GNAC standings, improve to 18-10 overall and 14-2 in GNAC play, while Lasell slips to 7-23 and 7-9 in league action.

In the first meeting of the day, Emerson combined 15 hits and two Laser errors to score 11 runs, six of which were earned, to get the better of Lasell's freshman pitcher Samantha Whynot (Randolph, MA).  In the loss, Whynot made two strikeouts through four innings while pitcher Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, MA) added one strikeout in one inning of relief.

Kelsey Tuthill (Middlefield, CT) secured the GNAC win in five innings of work, allowing just four Laser hits and one earned runs while sitting down seven batters on strikes. 

Emerson pulled ahead by ten runs through the top of the 4^th before Lasell scored their single run in the bottom of the frame.   Kendal Peiguss (Suquamish, WA) earned a game-best three RBI on a double and a walk while Lynn Herman (Boca Raton, FL) and Jilisa Rawding (Tewksbury, MA) added two RBI each.  Herman went 1-for-1 with one walk and one run while Rawding had two hits in two at bats.  Shannon Torosian (Stoneham, MA) had a 3-for-4 day at the plate, scoring three runs and adding one RBI.

Lasell's Michelle Torres (Waltham, MA) went 2-for-2 with one RBI in the game, plating Lasell's sole run on a single in the 4^th inning which scored Mammola.  Marissa McHugh (Plymouth, MA) and Kelly Silvia (Oak Bluffs, MA) added a hit each, McHugh's was a two-bag knock.

In game two, the Lions continued to turn it on strong with a 5-0 edge through the top of the 2^nd when Lasell's Jacqueline Saluti (Braintree, MA) stifled the shutout with a solo home run over the left center field fence.

Emerson tacked on four more runs through the 4^th inning to end the game early in five innings.

Alex Magistro (Hackettstown, NJ) was awarded the win for Emerson in three innings pitched.  Magistro gave up only three hits and one walk leading to one run while retiring three Laser batters.  Sara Murray (Auburn, NH) pitched two innings of relief for the Lions with one strikeout.  Alyson Bermudez (Londonderry, NH) suffered the defeat for Lasell in five innings.

Emerson put together seven runs on 12 hits and added two more unearned runs on one Laser miscue.  Bianca Buono (El Cajon, CA), Sierra Wood (Torrance, CA), and Tuthill each swung 2-for-3 at the plate and combined for four runs and three RBI.  Herman picked up two more RBI in game two to make her grand total for the day three.   

In addition to Saluti's homer, Lasell got knocks from Mammola, Torres, and Talia DeChiara (Kingston, MA).

Lasell has eight more regular season contests to play, all in GNAC action, beginning with a doubleheader against Pine Manor College tomorrow, April 17^th at 2:00 p.m. on Taylor Field.