Lasell Drops Two against Simmons

Auburndale, Mass. (04/15/16) The Lasell Softball team dropped both games to Simmons College Friday evening at Taylor Field. The Lasers fell to 5-13 and 2-6 in the GNAC while the Sharks improved to 9-10 and 3-5 in the GNAC.

Game One: Simmons 8 Lasell 2

Junior Marissa Spivey (Brockton, Mass.) earned two hits for the Lasers including an RBI single. Senior Nicole LeBlanc (Easton, Mass.) and sophomore Ashley Gatchell (Franklin, Mass.) both contributed doubles that led to runs for the Lasers.

The Sharks had three players with three hits each including junior Brianna Rastello (Salem, N.H.) who slammed a two run triple in the third and was a home run away from hitting for the cycle. Freshmen Mary Martunas (Rutland, Mass.) and Michaela Reeves (Reading, Mass.) both contributed two RBIs to the Sharks' effort as well.

Both starting pitchers began the game strong until the third inning when drove in two runs with an RBI triple, she would later score in the inning to give Simmons 3-0 lead. In the bottom half of the third, Spivey singled in Gatchell and the Lasers pulled within two runs of the Sharks. The pitchers, senior Eileen Bergin (Arlington, Mass.) and Freshman Michaela Reeves (Reading, Mass.), were virtually untouchable until the seventh inning when the Sharks pushed five runners across the plate on a cluster of extra base hits.

Down by seven in the bottom of the seventh, the Lasers tried to make one final comeback against the Sharks. While the Lasers were able to get a few runners on base, LeBlanc drove in the sole run of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

Bergin allowed seven runs and struck out five batters over 6 1/3 innings while Reeves pitched a complete game allowing two runs on eight hits for the Sharks.

Game Two: Simmons 9 Lasell 0

Spivey accounted for the lone hit for the Lasers as freshman Tori Gomes (Taunton, Mass.) pitched a complete game shutout over six innings.

The Sharks' heavy hitting was led by junior Emma D'Arpino (Johnston, R.I.) ripping three hits and scoring twice while sending two runners home as well. Freshman Alex Moleski (Bridgeport, Conn.) contributed three hits and drove in two runners on the day.

Simmons scored four runs in the second inning on a two run single by D'Arpino and a triple by senior Mikaela Caracciolo (North Attleboro, Mass.). Sophomore Lydia Lewis-Hicks (Seekonk, Mass.) came in on the mound for the Lasers and shut down the Sharks until the sixth inning when Simmons pushed five more runs across the plate on six hits. The Lasers were able to get a runner on in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to push a run across forcing the game to end an inning early.

Junior starting pitcher Krystel Enko (Haydenville, Mass.) allowed four runs over two innings while striking out two batters. Relief pitcher Lewis-Hicks allowed five runs and struck out three batters over four innings for the Lasers.

Lasell's softball team will continue their GNAC play at St. Joseph's (Conn.) on Saturday, April 16 for a doubleheader at 12:00pm and 2:00pm.