SB: Lasell falls to Johnson & Wales in GNAC playoffs

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Seventh-seeded Lasell University gave second-seeded Johnson & Wales University an upset scare Tuesday evening in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Softball Tournament quarterfinal contest but the Wildcats rallied for a 7-3 victory over the Lasers at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex Softball Field.

The upset-minded Lasers led 3-1 after two innings and 3-2 after four but the Wildcats scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to take their first lead and put the game away with three in the bottom of the sixth on a three-run home run by freshman Julia Huzi (Trumbull, Conn.).

JWU improves to 17-7 overall and advances to a semifinal home game on Thursday, May 6, against third-seeded University of Saint Joseph (Connecticut) at 4:00 p.m. The Blue Jays (13-6) advanced on Tuesday with an 8-0, six-inning triumph over sixth-seeded Norwich University. Lasell winds up its season at 8-13 overall.

The Lasers pounced in the first inning with two runs to take an early lead. Junior Brianna Gendreau (Warren, R.I.) cracked a lead-off double to left and senior Alexis Truesdale (Wakefield, Mass.) followed with a walk. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and then came home on a two-run single through the right side by freshman Eryn Sheeley (North Haven, Conn.).

The hosts got one back in the bottom of the first when Huzi led off with a double and came around to score on a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error. Lasell regained its two-run lead in the top of the second when Gendreau delivered an RBI single to right.

After Shari Minalga (Seymour, Conn.) cracked a solo home run for JWU in the third inning, the Wildcats took the lead in the fifth as senior Jill Pulek (Cheshire, Conn.) hit an RBI double to left and later scored on an outfield error. The Wildcats' rally in the sixth inning included a two-out Laser error that would have ended the inning, followed by a single by junior Megan Antaya (Somerset, Mass.) and the big blow by Huzi, her third homer of the season.

Sophomore Livia Feole (Cranston, R.I.) earned the complete-game victory for JWU, allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out six. Sheeley was dealt the loss for Lasell, going the distance and giving up five earned runs on seven hits and striking out three.

Sheeley and Gendreau each had two hits for the Lasers, while sophomore Matara Tamzarian (Manchester, N.H.) and freshmen Katie Hopkins (New Hyde Park, N.Y.), Ally Kirck (Hamden, Conn.) and Lexie Brunet (Dayville, Conn.) had one hit apiece.

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