Softball Suffers Double-Header Setback Against Lesley University, 9-0 and 7-4

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College junior center fielder Leah Spring (South Hadley, Mass.) was 3 for 3 with a run scored in game two, but Lesley University received a perfect-game effort in the circle from game one starter Jennifer Dorval (Franklin, N.H.) and the Lynx used a pair of three-run innings in game two to help post a double-header sweep of the Blazers on Sunday afternoon at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

With the losses, Elms falls to 8-15 overall, 4-6 in league play, while Lesley improves to 16-8 on the season, 9-0 in NECC action.

Lesley 9, Elms 0 (5 innings)

In game one, Lesley used a two-run double to left field off the bat of Allison Fountain (Cheshire, Conn.) and an RBI base hit to right by Dorval to give the Lynx an early 3-0 advantage.

Lesley placed runners on second and third in the second and fourth innings and a runner on second in the third, but Elms' freshman starter Alyson Santerre (Thompson, Conn.) didn't allow the Lynx to plate another run until the top of the fifth inning when six came across.

Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J.) started the rally with a two-run homer to left field and Jessica Guevara (Nantucket, Mass.) added a two-run double to highlight the frame for Lesley.

An RBI double by Fountain and a run-scoring single by Dorval extended the lead to 9-0.

In the circle, Dorval crafted a perfect game gem facing just 15 batters through five innings and issued six strikeouts to improve to 9-1 overall. Santerre suffered the loss (2-5) for the Blazers.

Emily Mangiaratti (Amherst, Mass.) was 3 for 4 with two runs scored to lead five Lesley players with multiple hits, while Fountain drove in three runs.

Lesley 7, Elms 4 (7 innings)

In game two, Lesley again crossed the dish three times in the first frame as Nicole Mercurio (Wakefield, Mass.) delivered a sacrifice fly to score Mangiaratti, Fountain scored on wild pitch and Gabrielle Brixey (Coalinga, Calif.) drove a solo shot to left field to give the Lynx a 3-0 cushion.

Elms' senior pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) tossed three scoreless innings following the three-run first and Lesley's pitcher Cassandra Knox (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) held Elms off the board through five innings.

In the top of the fifth, Fountain drove in Mangiaratti with a base hit to right field before Lesley used a three-run sixth frame ignited by an RBI single, a run-scoring fielder's choice and an RBI groundout to give the Lynx a 7-0 advantage.

The Blazers answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth when junior catcher Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) singled to center field with one out, advanced to third on a wild pitch, moved up to third on a groundout and then scored on the second wild toss of the stanza.

Elms then loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh as Spring scored on an RBI walk issued to sophomore third baseman Caitlee Carrier (Charlestown, Mass.). Sophomore second baseman Abby Capone (Fitchburg, Mass.) and freshman right fielder Katie Cruz (Shrewsbury, Mass.) later scored on an errant throw to pull Elms to within three at 7-4, but a groundout to third base ended the game.

Knox pitched the first six innings and earned the win (6-3), notching five strikeouts, while Hampton suffered the loss and falls to 4-7 overall.

Buckley connected for two hits, while Spring added three hits for Elms in the losing effort.

Fountain and Mercurio cracked two hits apiece for Lesley.

Elms is back in action on Wednesday, April 18 when it travels to Newbury College for a NECC double-header beginning at 3:00 p.m.