Lasell softball sweeps UMaine Farmington
NEWTON, Mass. (BVM) – The Lasell University Lasers softball team came away with two home wins over UMaine Farmington at Taylor Field on Saturday afternoon. The Lasers won the first game 6-5, in thrilling fashion, off a walk single in extra innings from first year Emily Mestas. The second game saw the Lasers cruise to a 3-1 win.
In the first game, sophomore pitcher Eryn Sheeley pitched a complete eight innings for the Lasers鈥� four earned runs. Mestas and junior outfielder Matara Tamzarian drove the Lasers鈥� offense in game as they went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and 3-for-4 respectively.聽
Lasell jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning as both Mestas and Tamzarian scored off an error by senior outfielder Makayla Wilson for the Beavers. The Beavers would strike back in the top of the third with runs from senior Leah Stevens and sophomore Olivia Paradis to square the game at two all.
The Lasers regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Mestas drove in sophomore Katie Hopkins. The Beavers then tied the game up in the fifth and went on to take their first lead of the game in the top of the seventh as Paradis hit a two–run homer.聽
The Lasers stayed alive in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a triple from senior Brianna Gendreau that drove in one run, followed by a double from Sheeley to send Gendreau home. Mestas then went on to walk it off in the bottom of the eighth.聽
Game two featured an incredible game from Lasell first year pitcher Meghan Theall, who pitched a complete game, giving up one unearned run off of five hits. Hopkins and Tamazarian brought the bats in game two as they both hit home runs in the victory.聽
Hopkins gave Lasell the lead in the second inning with a solo shot, a home run which she felt was big for her going forward.聽
鈥淚t felt good, I haven鈥檛 been getting on base a lot so that definitely boosted my confidence,鈥� the sophomore said.聽
The performance from Hopkins will catapult the player who hit an incredible .387 last season.
The Beavers responded in the fourth thanks to a single from first year Taylor Veilleux, driving in sophomore Kiley Merritt. Tamzarian would put the Lasers ahead for good with a two–run shot in the fifth.聽
Despite the production from the offense, it was Lasell鈥檚 defense that led them to victory in both games.聽
鈥淚 think our defense was pretty strong in backing up our pitchers, they produced,鈥� Hopkins said. 鈥淭he other team was hitting in spots that were difficult and we produced good defense.鈥澛�
Going forward Hopkins sees great potential in this team heading into conference play if they make minor improvements.聽
鈥淏ringing the bats alive earlier, working on gap hits, because we are hitting the ball just right to them and we have good offense, so once that gets alive we鈥檒l be unstoppable,鈥� the Lasers third base said.聽
The Lasers have one final tune up series at Salem State on Thursday before beginning conference play.
