Softball: Strong game one pitching and hitting lead Lasell to doubleheader split with Salem State

Salem, Mass. – The Lasell University Lasers softball team split a doubleheader matchup with the Salem State University Vikings, 12-0 and 7-3, Thursday at Alumni Field.

Game 1: Lasell 12 Salem State 0

Lasers got on the board in the first inning as senior Brianna Gendreau (Warren, R.I.) singled to center field to bring home freshman Mackenzie Still (Middleboro, Mass.).

Lasell doubled their lead in the second as junior Angelena Piers (Raynham, Mass.) singled home sophomore Ally Kirck (Hamden, Conn.).

The third inning saw the Lasers add to their lead once again as sophomore Katie Hopkins (Garden City Park, N.Y.) singled to center to bring home Gendreau.

Lasell made it four straight innings with a run as Gendreau tripled to right center to bring home freshman Samara Turgeon (Dartmouth, Mass.). A second came across on a Hopkins double that brought home Gendreau as the Lasers took a 5-0 lead.

After two scoreless innings by both teams the Lasers bats caught fire in the final frame. They scored their first run of the inning on a passed ball that brough home Hopkins. Piers was next to bat, and she ripped a two RBI single to bring home Kirck and junior Matara Tamzarian (Manchester, N.H.). Stills added another run with her first RBI of the game as her double brought home Piers, opening a nine to zero lead. Turgeon made it a double-digit lead as her single brought home freshman Emily Mestas (Highland, Calif.). The Lasers added two more first on a sacrifice fly by Gendreau and on a Viking error. This capped of a seven-run seventh inning as the Lasers took game one 12-0.

Sophomore Emily Carter (Warwick, R.I.) threw the whole game for the Vikings, striking out five and only allowing six earned runs. Senior Sydney Chiasson (Hudson, Mass.) and sophomore Mackenzie DeSantis (Ridge, N.Y.) both had a hit for Salem State.

Sophomore Eryn Sheeley (North Haven, Conn.) got the win on the mound for the Lasers going the distance while only allowing two hits and striking out 12. Gendreau went three for four at the plate with three RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Piers also had three RBIs for the Lasers on two hits. Hopkins drove home two on two hits while both Still and Turgeon scored twice, had two hits, and drove in a run for the Lasers. Kirck scored two runs for Lasell along with stealing two bases. Turgeon and Hopkins also stole a base apiece for the Lasers in the winning effort.

Game 2: Lasell 3 Salem State 7

The Vikings struck the first blow in game two as DeSantis doubled to right field bringing home Chiasson and junior Rebecca Walker (Lynn, Mass.). Salem State added a third run in the first inning as freshman Dawn Eisnor (Medford, Mass.) came home to score on an RBI groundout. The Vikings capped off their four-run first inning when DeSantis scored on a passed ball.

The Lasers answered back with their next at bats as freshman Meghan Theall (Billerica, Mass.) helped her own cause on the mound with an RBI single to left field to bring in Tamzarian. Still made it a one-run game as she doubled to left center to bring home Piers and Mestas.

An inning later the Vikings increased their advantage first on an RBI single to left field by DeSantis to score Walker. Senior Gracie Hogan (Blackstone, Mass.) made it a two-run inning for Salem State as she brought home Eisnor with a sacrifice fly to right.

The fourth inning saw the Vikings take back the four-run advantage they had after the first inning on a sacrifice fly to right brought home junior Abigail Johnson (Meredith, N.H.). The run for the Vikings would be the end of the scoring as both pitchers held each other scoreless the rest of the way as Salem State took an 7-4 victory.

Hogan got the win on the mound for the Vikings going the distance allowing 10 hits and three runs. DeSantis led the way with the bats as she went two for three with three RBIs and a run scored. Walker went two for two with two runs scored and one RBI. Junior Isabella Perrotti (Winthrop, Mass.) and Hogan each had an RBI apiece.

Theall went the distance for the Lasers as well giving up seven hits and three earned runs while striking out five. Still led the way at the plate for Lasell going three for four with two RBIs. Gendreau had two hits and two stolen bases and Theall added an RBI at the plate to go along with her pitching.

"The first game our bats were hot, we played good defense and our heads were in it the entire time" said head coach Sarah Woodside. "Unfortunately, the second game we underestimated the fire Salem State would have and we did not play the way we know how. We will learn from our mistakes and come prepared for JWU on Saturday"

The Lasers will be back in action on Saturday, April 2, when they play host to Johnson & Wales University in the first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) games for Lasell. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Taylor Field.

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