WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Junior righthander Tom Muratore (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) picked up the decision in the Lynx's rain-shortened, 4-3, victory over Springfield College, Sunday afternoon, to open the 2017 season. Muratore went the distance allowing just two earned runs while scattering eight hits and striking out five in Lesley's first victory against a NEWMAC institution.
The Lynx wasted little time jumping on the scoreboard first. Senior third baseman Mike Slaby (Foxboro, Mass.) led off the ballgame with a triple. Two batters later he came in to score the first run of the season on groundball to the right side of the infield off the bat of sophomore Ryan Pumphret (Shrewsbury, Mass.).
In the bottom of the frame, Muratore escaped a one-out bases loaded jam getting Springfield's Mike Jamieson to ground into an inning-ending double-play to keep the score at 1-0. But the Pride were able to push across two runs in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of a Lynx error.
Springfield remained on top for the next two innings before Lesley put up a crooked number three in the top of the fifth inning. First year Steven DePalma (Albertson, N.Y.) and Pumphret opened the frame with back-to-back basehits off Pride reliever Jack Weinberger. Two batters later, junior J.P. Agiorgousis (Hanscom AFB, Mass.) ripped single to plate DePalma and tie the game. Sophomore Gage Reycroft (Ft. Myers, Fla.) kept the offense going for the Lynx with a single of his own to bring home Pumphret before Agiorgousis came in on an error by the shortstop and take a 4-2 lead.
The Pride pushed across a run one run in the home half of the fifth before the gray skies opened up midway through the top of the sixth inning.
Springfield starter Brian Johnston tossed four innings allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four opposing batters before handing the ball over to Weinberger, who took the loss. In 1.1 innings of work, Weinberger allowed three runs on five hits and struck out two.
Opening at the season a 1-0, the Lynx return to the diamond tomorrow with a double-header against Utica College. First pitch is slated for 9:30 a.m.