Posted: Apr 15, 2009

Softball Posts Split With NECC-Leading Lesley

SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH NECC-LEADING LESLEY

CAMBRIDGE, MA, April 15, 2009 - Freshman pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, MA) struck out a collegiate career-high 10 batters and the Blazers pounded out 11 hits to post a 5-2 win over host Lesley University in the nightcap of a crucial New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball doubleheader in a battle of two of the conference's top three teams on Wednesday afternoon in Cambridge.

After winning game one 4-2, the Lynx were then sent to their first conference loss of the year. Lesley (14-9) remains tied atop the NECC standings with Bay Path at 7-1.

The Blazers, meanwhile, improved to 11-10 and are in third place in the NECC at 8-2 and will host Bay Path in another critical conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Dooley Field. Game one is set for a 12:00 p.m. start.

After dropping the first game, Elms College rebounded in the second game of the doubleheader, as three Blazers had multi-hit games and Hampton posted her first collegiate-career 10-strikeout game.

Sophomore center fielder Alison McBride (East Providence, RI) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the Blazers as her biggest at-bat came in the third inning when she roped a triple to right center field. The triple scored the runner from first base, but McBride was gunned down attempting to stretch the triple to an inside-the-park homer.

Senior shortstop Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, MA) also recorded two RBI on a 2-for-3 day at the plate and Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) scored three runs out of the leadoff spot.

The Lynx attempted a late-game comeback after an RBI single from Ashley Cunningham (Mountain Top, PA) brought home Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, MA) but Wilson, who started on second base, was thrown out at home by Elms College freshman left fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, RI).

In the first game on Wednesday, Lesley used some timely hitting from third baseman Sarah Wilson (Lowell, MA), who laced a two-RBI single to center field with two outs in the fourth inning. The hit was part of a three-run inning that broke what had been a scoreless game to that point. Wilson would later cross home plate on an RBI single from Alyson Durben (Stow, MA)

Elms College came right back in the top half of the fifth and scored a two-out run of their own after a throwing error with two runners in scoring position. The Blazers cut Lesley's lead to 3-1 going into the bottom of the inning.

Sophomore hurler Ani Ramsdell (Gardner, MA) set down the Lynx one-two-three in the bottom of the fifth by striking out two and forcing a fly out. Ramsdell, who fell to 5-6 with the loss, finished with six strikeouts while giving up just one earned run in six full innings.

The Blazers trimmed the lead to one-run after junior second baseman Ally Graffum (Ipswich, MA) singled through the right side of the infield to start the inning. Graffum later scored on a fielder's choice groundout by freshman third baseman Kelly Callahan (Monson, MA).

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lesley added an insurance run after senior shortstop Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, MA) roped a triple over the left fielder's head and scored on a groundout by Jodi Fralick (Woburn, MA).

Lesley would shut the door on Elms in the final frame as Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, FL) finished off the complete game victory. Burnett tallied eight strikeouts in the game as the senior improved to 8-5 on the season.

After dropping the first game, Elms College rebounded in the second game of the doubleheader, as three Blazers had multi-hit games and Hampton posted her first collegiate-career 10-strikeout game.

Senior shortstop Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, MA) also recorded two RBI on a 2-for-3 day at the plate and Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) scored three runs out of the leadoff spot.

Elms College returns to non-conference play on Thursday afternoon when it hosts WNEC. Game time at Condon Field is 4:00 p.m.