LASELL CLINCHES PLAYOFF BIRTH WITH SWEEP OF MOUNT IDA ON SENIOR DAY

Written by: Matt Cermola, Athletics Intern

NEWTON, MA- The Lasell College Softball team swept a doubleheader against Mount Ida College on Senior Day, 2-1, in the first game and 3-2 in game two.

Lasell scored their only two runs in the second off Mustang starting pitcher Devan Meeker (Bantam, CT). Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, MA) started the rally with a leadoff double to left centerfield. Ashley Laramie (Lynn, MA) then reached on an error by second baseman Tiffany Hamann (Newton, MA), advancing Mammola to third.

After Laramie stole second base, Marissa McHugh (Plymouth, MA) fouled out to Hamann, Mammola tagged up on the play and scored from third, while Laramie advanced to third on the throw. Jacqueline Saluti (Braintree, MA) then singled, bringing in Laramie and the second Laser run.

With the way Mammola was pitching, two runs was all Lasell would need. The Mustangs would get to Mammola for just one run in the top of the sixth, after a Tracy Koukol (North Attleboro, MA) strike out, Meeker hit a solo homerun just inside the left field foul pole.

Taking the loss for the Mustangs, despite pitching well, was Meeker. She allowed two runs, one earned, on just five hits.

The let up to Meeker would be Mammola's only run allowed as she would pick up the win for Lasell going all seven innings yielding five hits.

Game two was much of the same as Lasell would win another tight one run ball game.

The Lasers would once again jump ahead off Meeker, this time in the bottom half of the first. After a Rachelle Haas (Middletown, MA) leadoff single, Candace Hankard (Wakefield, MA) doubled to leftfield, bringing in Haas all the way from first and giving Lasell a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth, the Lasers would tack on another with a two out rally. After back-to-back two out singles by Saluti and Kelly Silvia (Oak Bluffs, MA), Kerrie Starkey (Keene, NH) singled between first and second to score Saluti.

In the top of the sixth, the Mustangs would rally off starting pitcher Alison Saluti (Braintree, MA). After consecutive singles by Meeker and Hamann, Kirsten Guerrero (Fairfield, CT) doubled to left centerfield, scoring Meeker and advancing Hamann to third. Erica Belliveau (Tewksbury, MA) then knocked in Hamann with a single to right field tying the game at 2-2.

The game would not stay tied for long as in the bottom half of the sixth, Laramie hit a leadoff homerun to centerfield, putting Lasell up for good, 3-2.

Alison Saluti got the win for Lasell, going seven innings, allowing two runs on just five hits while striking out seven.

Meeker took the loss again in game two, allowing three runs on nine hits.

Prior to the contest beginning, Lasell honored their five senior softball athletes playing in their final season.  Laramie, Silvia, Mammola, Starkey, and Michelle Torres (Waltham, MA) were thanked for their four year careers with Lasell in the ceremony.

The Lasers improve to 11-27 on the season and 11-13 in conference action as they earned their spot as the 7^th seed in the GNAC tournament.  Postseason play begins Wednesday afternoon for Lasell at Peirce Stadium in Providence, Rhode Island, against Johnson & Wales University at 2:15 p.m.