Laramie Knocks Walk-Off Home Run as Lasers Sweep Gators

NEWTON, MA- Ashley Laramie (Lynn, MA) pinch hit in the seventh inning of game two of a double header with Pine Manor College and launched a three-run, walk-off home run over the center field fence to give the Lasers a 5-2 victory over the Gators.  The Lasers had previously defeated the Gators, 11-3, in five innings in the first game of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader.

 Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, MA) and Alison Saluti (Braintree, MA) each picked up a win on Sunday.  Mammola secured the win in game one through five innings making three strikeouts, yielding six hits and three runs with two walks.  The senior pitcher also helped offensively with three RBI in the game, going 2-for-2 with a double and one walk.  Saluti's fourth win of the season edged out the Gators in game two.  The sophomore pitcher struck out five Gators while allowing two runs, no walks, and seven hits.

In the first game, Kelly Silvia (Oak Bluffs, MA) was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while also scoring two runs and adding two RBI on two of her base hits.  Silvia's third hit was a double to lead off the top of the fifth inning.  Rachelle Haas (Middleton, MA) rendered three RBI on two hits, including a two-RBI double in the bottom of the second inning which brought in the winning run.  Marissa McHugh (Plymouth, MA), Laramie, and Kerrie Starkey (Keene, NH) also brought home one run each. 

All three of Pine Manor's runs were scored in the top of the second inning after a scoreless complete first frame.  Lasell came back with vigor to double the Gators score in the bottom of the inning.  Starkey singled into left center field to bring in Candace Hankard (Wakefield, MA) and a Silvia base hit followed to score McHugh.  Haas' two-RBI double scored both Starkey and Silvia, which proved to be all the Lasers would need for runs, however Mammola tacked on two more runs for Lasell with a two-bag hit into right, which scored Talia DeChaira (Kingston, MA) and Haas.

Lasell continued to add on runs through the fourth and fifth innings to eventually take the needed eight-run lead to close the game in five innings.

The second contest was a battle through six innings as the teams held each other scoreless through three and then each scored two runs in the fourth.   Pine Manor struck first after a sacrifice fly and a home run put the visitors up 2-0.  Lasell came back on a McHugh two-run home run which she drilled deep into left center to score herself and DeChiara. 

The 2-all deadlock remained in place through the top of the seventh when Laramie entered to pinch hit with two outs and two runners on base.  Laramie's homer, her fourth of the season, brought in DeChiara for the winning run, as well as Haas and herself to end the game.

Silvia went 2-for-3 in the second game while Courtney Moen (Brookfield, MA), Hankard, Mammola, and DeChiara added one hit each. 

Lasell continues in GNAC play this week with a conference doubleheader against Simmons College on Tuesday, April 19^th.  The contest will be played on Taylor Field at 3:00 p.m.