Softball: Lasers sweep UMaine-Farmington in home opener Saturday at Taylor Field

NEWTON, Mass. - Junior Matara Tamzarian and freshman Emily Mestas went a combined 10-of-13 batting, with four RBIs, three runs, one home run and one double, for the Lasell University softball team during two victories over UMaine-Farmington Saturday at Taylor Field.

The Lasers (5-7) earned a 6-5 win in eight innings during Game 1, and then outlasted the Beavers (1-5), 3-1, during the second game. The home opener also served as a White Ribbon Campaign event, as Lasell Athletics is proud to stand up and speak out against sexual and domestic violence. 

During Game 1, freshman Mackenzie Still went 2 of 4, with two doubles and one run, while sophomore pitcher Eryn Sheeley earned her third win of the season, going the full eight innings and striking out nine.

In the Game 2 victory, senior Brianna Gendreau finished 3 for 4 in the batter's box, to go along with one double and one run. Freshman pitcher Meghan Theall earned her second collegiate win in the circle, giving up no earned runs in seven innings.

"The team played for each other today," said Lasell University Softball Head Coach Sarah Woodside. "They backed up their pitchers with great plays and picked each other up at the plate. We had several girls get clutch hits and it sealed the wins for us."

Game 1 (Lasell 6, UMaine-Farmington 5 - 8 innings):

Tamzarian and Mestas scored unearned runs in the second inning, putting Lasell in front, 2-0. The Beavers evened the score at 2-2 in the top half of the third, as Olivia Paradis tallied a one-run single up the middle, and then Makayla Wilson crossed home with an unearned run with one out.

Sophomore Katie Hopkins and Tamzarian led off with back-to-back singles in the fourth for Lasell. During the ensuing at-bat, Mestas connected on an RBI single through the left side, giving the hosts a 3-2 advantage. A one-out, one-run single to center by Christa Allen of UMaine-Farmington knotted the game at 3-3 in the fifth.

A two-out, two-run homer to left by Paradis in the top half of the seventh allowed the visitors to take a two-run lead. The Lasers rallied in their half of the seventh with a two-run effort. Still drove a one-out double to left-center, and then after a strikeout, Lasell was down to its last out. Gendreau came through in the clutch, ripping an RBI triple down the right-field line. During the next at-bat, Sheeley forced extra innings with a one-run double to right-center.

During the bottom of the eighth, Mestas tallied the game-winning RBI single down the left-field line, allowing Hopkins to score the winning run. Sheeley retired the side in order during the second, sixth and eighth innings. Each team made one error in the game.

Game 2 (Lasell 3, UMaine-Farmington 1):

Hopkins opened the scoring with a leadoff homer down the left-field line in the bottom of the second, putting the hosts in front, 1-0. A one-run single to left-center by Taylor Veilleux of the Beavers evened the score at 1-1 during the fourth inning.

Gendreau led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to left-center, and then three at-bats later with two outs, Tamzarian blasted the game-winning, two-run homer over the left-field fence, clinching the two-run victory for Lasell.

Theall retired the first five batters that she faced and did not give up a hit until the third inning. Lasell led the hits' category, 11-5.

Up Next:

The Lasers will compete against Salem State Thursday with game times set for 4 and 6 p.m., respectively, in Salem, Massachusetts.

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

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