Softball Sweeps Mount Ida in GNAC Doubleheader

NEWTON, Mass. (3/30/15) - The Lasell College softball team opened their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) schedule with two wins over Mount Ida on Monday afternoon at Alumni Field. With the sweep, the Lasers improve to 2-0 in the GNAC and 5-7 overall, while the Mustangs remain winless in conference play 0-4 and drop to 0-13 on the year.

Lasell: 6 Mount Ida: 0

Junior pitcher Eileen Bergin (Arlington, Mass.) pitched a complete game for the Lasers, scattering four hits and striking out one batter. Junior Nicole LeBlanc (Easton, Mass.) controlled the scoring, driving in two runs, while senior Denise Archetto (Cranston, R.I.), junior Emily DeAngelis (Shelton, Conn.) and sophomore Erin Smith (Gorham, Maine) each batted in a single run apiece.

For the Mustangs, sophomore Sam Laferriere (Tewksbury, Mass.) hit 2-for-3, while sophomores Shannon McArthur (Coventry, R.I.) and Emma Morton (Winchester, Mass.) each went 1-for-3. Freshman Hayley Microulis (Pawtucket, R.I.) suffered the loss on the mound for Mount Ida with four earned runs and four walks.

After two and a half scoreless innings, Lasell packed in three runs in the bottom of the third. Archetto stepped up to the plate and cranked a double to left field to score Smith who reached first base on a single to center. DeAngelis returned the favor with her next at bat, scoring Archetto off a single down the right field line. Angelis would eventually score on a passed ball, giving the Lasers the early 3-0 lead.

During the Lasers' next at-bats, Smith singled to center field to score freshman Ashley Gatchell (Franklin, Mass.) who reached first base after a base hit to left field. The Mustangs took the plate in the top of the sixth, where Morton got on base with a single through the right side. Sophomore Kaitlyn Muhlenforth (Bohemia, N.Y.) took first base on a fielder's choice, where Morton was then out on the play. Muhlenforth advanced to second on a single to left field by Laferriere, but was left on base to secure the 6-0 victory for the Lasers.

Lasell: 13 Mount Ida: 5

The Lasers crammed in ten runs in the second inning to secure a final 13-5 victory. With two runners on base, DeAngelis and senior Michaela Grady (Worcester, Mass.) each cracked the ball over the outfield fence. Grady registered her first home run of the spring, while DeAngelis grabbed her second home run on the year.

Mount Ida bounced back in the top of the fourth when McArthur sent a fly ball over the center field fence to score Muhlenforth, giving the Mustangs a chance with three points on the scoreboard. The fifth inning featured runs from Laferriere and Morton, courtesty of runs batted in by the Muhlenforth and McArthur duo.

Gatchell was the deciding factor in the bottom of the fifth, reaching on a fielder's choice to send DeAngelis home with the walk-off bunt for the 13-5 win.

Sophomore pitcher Krystal Enko (Haydenville, Mass.) pitched 4.1 innings for seven hits and five earned runs to earn her second win of the season (2-5). Muhlenforth (0-8) took the setback on the mound for the Mustangs, allowing nine earned runs and 13 hits. 

The Mustangs will host Simmons College on Friday, April 3 for a GNAC doubleheader, while the Lasers' schedule is tentative due to weather and field conditions.