LeBlanc Launches Two Home Runs in Softball Doubleheader Sweep

FORT MYERS, Fla. (3/16/15) – The Lasell College softball team bounced back from an 0-2 performance yesterday to take down the the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth 9-0 in 5 innings, and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 4-3 in Fort Myers, Fla. at the Lee County Sports Complex. The Lasers even out to 2-2 on the season, while the Corsairs drop to 2-2 and the Pioneers fall to 2-4.  

Lasell 9, UMass Dartmouth 0 – 5 innings 

The Lasers were led by freshman Laura MacLeod (Old Saybrook, Conn.) who hit 2-for-3 with a double and two runs. Junior Eileen Bergin (Arlington, Mass.) dominated the mound, holding the Corsairs to three hits during the five inning competition. Junior Nicole LeBlanc (Easton, Mass.) was the deciding factor for the Laser's success, driving in three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with a deep home run to left field.

In the top of the second, MacLeod doubled down the left field line and junior Emily DeAngelis (Shelton, Conn.) reached on an error by the shortstop to put the Lasers in scoring position. Freshman Ashley Gatchell (Franklin, Mass.) was safe at first on an error by the Corsairs' second baseman, sending Macleod home for the Lasers' first run of the game. On an error by the catcher, Gatchell stole home sending Lasell on top of the Corsairs through the third inning.   

During the top of the fourth, Lasell rallied for six hits and seven runs on hits from Macleod, Gatchell, DeAngelis, freshman Erin Smith (Gorham, Maine), freshman Mickayla Cobb (Middleboro, Mass.), and LeBlanc. With a pitching change from the Corsairs in the middle of the fourth, freshman Hannah Smith (Attleboro, Mass.) took the mound for U-Mass just before LeBlanc sent the ball over the left field fence for her first home run of year with Cobb and junior Erin Larghi (Wakefield, R.I.) on base.   

Lasell 4, Wisconsin-Platteville 3 

Wisconsin-Platteville scored early in the top of the third via a double from senior Katie Huss (Serena, Ill.), scoring Freshman Kelsie Jo Enders (Randolph, Minn.).  With another double down the left field line from junior Carley Rote (McConnell, Ill.), Huss scored from third base after advancing on a fielder's choice (2-0).  

Lasell responded with a three-hit inning in the bottom of the third from senior Denise Archetto (Cranston, R.I.), LeBlanc, and DeAngelis.  DeAngelis' deep single to left field was able to score Archetto from second base, putting the Lasers on the board at 2-1.

Sophomore pitcher Krystel Enko (Haydenville, Mass.) held the Pioneers through the top of the sixth until Enders singled up the middle to score senior Haley Salazar (Sycamore, Ill.) from second base to give the opposing team the 3-1 advantage.

With a last chance at-bat, the Lasers strung together four hits from sophomore Emily Noll (Weymouth, Mass.), Larghi, Archetto, and LeBlanc.  A lead off punch to right field from Noll and a triple from Larghi gave the Lasers their first run of the inning.  Another shot to right field from Archetto drove Larghi easily home from third base.  Archetto advanced to second on a passed ball and LeBlanc homered to center field for the go-ahead run to win the game 4-3. 

The Lasers will take on Franklin & Marshall University at 9:00 a.m. and Salem State University at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17 at the Cape Coral Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla.  ​