SB: Lasers Win Two Elimination Games, Advance to Final Three of GNAC Tournament
Providence, RI - The Lasell Lasers Softball team won two elimination games on Saturday, defeating Saint Joseph (ME) 2-1 and Emmanuel 3-1. The wins bring the Lasers record to 27-15-1 on the season, tying the 2007 team for the most wins in program history.
Game One vs Saint Joseph (ME)
In a game dominated by pitching, the Monks struck first with an RBI single in the third. The Lasers then responded in the fourth on a Mackenzie Still sacrifice fly. Then in the fifth, after a walk and a pair of sacrifice bunts moved the runner to third, Brianna Gendreau singled to right field to put the Lasers up 2-1. It was Gendreau's 170th career hit, making her the all-time hits leader in school history, besting Nicole LeBlanc's mark of 169. The Lasers would then shut down the Monks the rest of the way to get the win.
All three Laser hits came from Brianna Gendreau. Abigail Fortin started in the circle for the Lasers, allowing four hits and a run over four innings. She struck out three. She was relieved by Eryn Sheeley, who picked up the win by pitching three hitless innings and striking out five.
Game Two vs Emmanuel
Similar to their game earlier in the day, the runs were at a premium. The Saints broke the scoreless game with an RBI single in the fourth. It wasn't until the seventh that the Lasers would be able to answer Matara Tamzarian would lead off the inning with a double. After a walk, Grace Stephenson brought home the tying run with an RBI single. After a ground out advanced a runner to third, Abigail Fortin flied out to right field. Alyssa Bland seemingly scored on the tag out, but was called out after the Saints appealed. As she had done all game, Eryn Sheeley would shut down the Saints in the bottom half of the inning, sending the game to extra innings. After neither team got anything going in the eighth, the Lasers broke through in the ninth. Mackenzie Still led the inning off by reaching on an error. She would then steal second. Still was seemingly doubled off on an Alyssa Bland line out, but the umpires would get together, and determine that the ball had hit the ground, and that both Bland and Still were safe. Taking advantage of their second chance, the Lasers took the lead on a Grace Stephenson two RBI double. But the Saints would not go down quietly. The Saints would lead the inning off with a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases with nobody out. But Sheeley remained composed, and struck out the next batter. She then got the next one to pop out to second base. With two down, Sheeley would record her 10th strikeout of the game to clinch the victory.
Eryn Sheeley was a big reason why the Lasers won, pitching all nine innings, allowing just three hits and a lone run. She walked five and struck out 10. On the day she pitched 12 innings, and allowed just three hits and one run while striking out 15. The Lasers had seven hits, with Grace Stephenson recording three. Katie Hopkins also had two
With 14 wins on the season, Sheeley tied Laura Stone (2005) for the second most wins in a single season.
Up next - The Lasers will face off with Albertus Magnus in an elimination game at 12pm on Sunday. The Falcons won on Thursday 4-3 when the two teams faced off earlier in the tournament.