SB: Lasers Sweep JWU in Critical GNAC Doubleheader
Newton, MA – The Lasell University softball team swept the Johnson and Wales Wildcats by a score of 5-4 and 8-0 on Saturday afternoon. The wins move the Lasers up to 20-9 overall and 11-1 in conference play, while the Wildcats drop to 14-16 overall and 8-2 in conference.
Game 1
Game one got off to a quick start as JWU jumped out in front in the first inning as two walks put runners on first and second and a double from Mady Lyons gave them an early 2-0 lead. Lasell would strike back in the bottom half as a walk and a single would give them runners on first and second and freshman Emily Rondeau blasted a three-run home run to give the Lasers the lead, 3-2.
The Wildcats tied things up in the top of the second inning on a sacrifice fly. Both sides would be held scoreless over the next three innings as Lasell's Eryn Sheeley and JWU's Mackenzie Clee each hit their stride and settled in on the rubber.
Lasell would get to Clee in the bottom of the sixth inning as a Katie Hopkins single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Sophomore Alyssa Bland singled on the infield to bring in a run and give the Lasers a 4-3 lead. The very next batter, Ally Kirck got hit by a pitch bringing in another run and giving Lasell some insurance heading into the top of the seventh inning.
The Wildcats' Hailey Erickson would blast a solo home run with one out in the seventh to bring JWU within one, but Sheeley shut things down, getting the next three batters to all fly out and clinching the game one win for the Lasers.
Sheeley (9-3) earned the win, making her the all-time wins leader in program history with 34 career victories. She allowed four runs on five hits over seven innings, walking six batters and striking out five.
Offensively for the Lasers, Rondeau led the way with a three-run home run. Bland also singled and drove in a run. Hopkins and Emily Mestas each singled and scored a run and Shyanne Raccio and Abby Fortin each singled.
Game 2
Game two got off to a much slower start as both starting pitchers were dealing early on. Fortin toed the rubber for the Lasers and Katie Scheid got the start for the Wildcats.
Lasell's offense got going in the fourth as Brianna Gendreau singled to start the inning and a walk gave them runners on first and second with one out. Sheeley would line a double to the left center gap scoring Gendreau and giving the Lasers a 1-0 lead.
The next inning the Wildcats would get runners to second and third with two outs, but Fortin was able to get out of the jam and preserve the Laser lead. In the bottom half of the inning Lasell would blow things open. Three singles to start the inning would load the bases and a pinch hit, hit by pitch for Mackenzie Still would bring in another Laser run. A single from Rondeau added another run and a bases clearing triple off the bat of Hopkins gave the Lasers a 6-0 lead with one out in the fifth. Sheeley stepped to the plate and walked things off with a two-run blast to left center, ending the game due to mercy rule and giving Lasell the doubleheader sweep.
Fortin (9-2) got the win for Lasell, pitching all five innings, allowing no runs on six hits while walking none and striking out two.
Offensively, Sheeley doubled, homered and drove in three runs. Hopkins tripled and drove in three runs as well, making her the all-time RBI leader in program history with 108 in her career. Gendreau singled twice and scored two runs, Rondeau also singled and drove in a run. Bland and Kirck each singled and each also scored a run.
Up Next: The Lasers are back in action tomorrow at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm as they travel to Paxton, Massachusetts for another GNAC doubleheader against Anna Maria!
By: Camdyn Ames