Simmons Sweeps Softball in GNAC Twinbill

Senior third baseman Mackenzie Madden (Mashpee, Mass.) and senior second baseman Erin Smith (Gorham, Maine) each rapped out a pair of hits to lead the Lasell offense.

Simmons first year second baseman Lauren Del Vacchio (Murrieta, Calif.) reached base all six times she was up and senior catcher Alison Gauvin (Whitefield, Maine) collected three hits and knocked in a pair of runs to lead the winnings offense. 

Del Vacchio was 2-2 with four walks, a triple and three runs scored for Simmons, while Gauvin finished the day going 3-4 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Sophomore left fielder Sam Curran (Concord, N.H.), sophomore Michaela Reeves (Reading, Mass.) and sophomore first baseman Alexandra Moleski (Bridgeport, Conn.) all collected a pair of hits for the night, including a home run and three runs batted in for Moleski.

The Sharks scored twice to crack the scoring column in the bottom of the first in the opening game. Del Vacchio drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a single from first year center fielder Molly Hennessey (Charlton, Mass.). Moleski knocked in Del Vacchio with a ground out and Hennessey came around to score on a single to center from Reeves. Simmons tacked on another run in the second when first year designated player Alex Soqui (Acushnet, Mass.) doubled to open the frame and scored on a one-out single to center off the bat of first year shortstop Ashley Lynch (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to make it 3-0.

Gauvin became the fourth straight batter to reach base to lead off an inning for the Sharks with a single in the fourth and Del Vacchio worked a walk one out later to put two runners on base for the home team. Moleski followed by legging out a three-run inside-the-park home run to give Simmons a 6-0 advantage. The Sharks ended the game with two runs in the fifth, including an RBI single from Gauvin. The game was halted due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Reeves earned the victory to improve to 1-2 for Simmons, allowing no runs on three hits, while striking out a batter. Senior starting pitcher Krystel Enko (Haydenville, Mass.) (1-4) suffered the loss for the visitors, giving up six runs on eight hits and four walks to go with a strikeout.

The Sharks managed just four hits, but took advantage of a costly error in the first inning of game two to pull out a win for the sweep.

Del Vacchio led off the first for Simmons with a single through the left side and came all the way around to score when Hennessey reached on a fielder's choice, combined with a throwing error by the Lasell third baseman. The throw also led to Hennessey circling the bases as well for a 2-0 Sharks' lead. Simmons added an important insurance run in the fourth when Soqui drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a two-out single up the middle from Gauvin for a 3-0 margin.

The Lasers got on the board when they strung together three straight singles with one out in the top of the fifth. Smith singled to third, followed by a base knock to right field from sophomore center fielder Maggie King (Sandy Creek, N.Y.), before first year first baseman Victoria Spellman (Rocky Hill, Conn.) plated Smith with a single to second base to cut the deficit to 3-1. Lasell looked to tie the game in the seventh. Spellman reached on an error by the third baseman to open the frame and scored two outs later on a single to right off the bat of first year pitcher Nicole Arcese (Holliston, Mass.) to pull the Lasers to within 3-2. The Sharks' starting pitcher Tori Gomes (Taunton, Mass.) induced a ground out to second to end the threat and the game.

Gomes picked up her first win of the year to improve to 1-4 after yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks in seven complete innings, while fanning three for Simmons. Arcese (2-2) hurled six innings for Lasell, giving up three unearned runs on four hits and two walks against three strikeouts.

The Lasers will host Gordon College for a 3:00 p.m. start on Wednesday, April 5, while the Sharks return to Daly Field when they host Eastern Nazarene College in double header action on the same day at 5:00 p.m.

Recap courtesy of Simmons Sports Information