Softball: Hot bats in game one lead Lasell to split with Fitchburg State

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Lasell University Lasers softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against the Fitchburg State Falcons, 10-2 and 8-1, Thursday afternoon at Coolidge Park.

Game 1: Lasell 10 Fitchburg 2 5-innings

Lasell got the scoring started in the top of the first inning as sophomore Ally Kirck (Hamden, Conn.) scored on a wild pitch by the Falcons.

The Falcons answered back in the bottom half of the first on an RBI single by senior Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) that brought home junior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) tying the game at one after one inning.

Lasell opened the game up in the second inning starting with a single by freshman Meghan Theall (Billerica, Mass.) that scored sophomore Eryn Sheeley (North Haven, Conn.). Freshman Mackenzie Still (Middleboro, Mass.) made it two runs in the inning as her single down the left field line brought in fellow classmate Emily Mestas (Highland, Calif.). Kirck made it three straight RBI singles as she drove in Theall to take a three-run lead. Two errors by the Falcons allowed for Still, Kirck, and senior Brianna Gendreau (Warren, R.I.) to come home and score capping off a six-run outburst by the Lasers.

 Junior Angelena Piers (Raynham, Mass.) added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI single up the middle that brought home Sheeley. Theall added another RBI as she also singled up the middle to bring home Mestas and was quickly followed up by Still as her single brought home Piers to give the Lasers a 10-1 lead after four and a half.

Fitchburg clawed one back in the bottom half of the inning as freshman Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.) brought home senior Morgan Cormier (Leominster, Mass.) with a groundout to third base. Theall got the final out on the mound for Lasell and the Lasers took game one in five innings 10-2.

Theall got the win on the mound going the distance giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out one. Still and Theall both drove in two runs while getting two hits at the plate. Piers and Kirck drove in a run apiece in the win for Lasell.

Game 2:  Lasell 1 Fitchburg 8

The Lasers started off game two like they did with game one as sophomore Katie Hopkins (Garden City Park, N.Y.) doubled to left center to bring home Gendreau and take a one run lead after their first at bats.

The Falcons answered quickly and with authority as Grass led off the bottom of the first inning with a homerun to right field. Freshman Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) brought home Gauvin with a single up the middle. The Falcons added a third in the inning on a bunt single by sophomore Allison Pogorek (Millbury, Mass.) that brought home Johnson. Freshman Kiara Bigeau (Clinton, Mass.) made it a five run first inning for the Falcons as her single to center field brought home both Pogorek and Sousa.

The game stayed 5-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Grass came home to score on a Lasell error. The Falcons kept it going as a Johnson double brought home a second run in the sixth as freshman Ella Marshall (Gloucester, Mass.) came home to score. Sousa then traded places with Johnson as her double brought her home and gave the Falcons an 8-1 lead after six and they would hold that the rest of the way taking game two.

Freshman Mackenzie Levellie (Brooklyn, Conn.) got the win on the mound for the Falcons going the distance only giving up one run on five hits and striking out three. Sousa led the way for the Falcons going three of four at the plate and driving in two runs. Bigeau also drove in two runs for the Falcons and Grass went three for four with one run batted in. Johnson drove in a run with two hits and Pogorek drove in a run for Fitchburg. Gauvin went three for four at the plate for the Falcons.

Gendreau went two for four at the plate with one run scored and Hopkins had one hit and drove in a run as well.

The Lasers will be back in action on Saturday, April 23, when they play host to Simmons University in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.