LEICESTER, MA - Lesley University went into Leicester, MA and swept Becker College in a softball doubleheader for the first time in the school's history. Not only did the Lynx walk away with two victories they also made a very loud statement to Becker as they scored 34 runs in the two games.
Game 1
The Lynx scored 23 runs off of 24 hits in a five inning blowout of Becker College to open the two game series. Maureen Mikos (Fairfield, CT) went the distance for the Lynx to improve to 7-3 on the season. Mikos pitched five innings while giving up just five hits and striking out eight batters.
Lesley showed off its versatility on offense with a lot of runs that were manufactured with speed and a lot of runs that were manufactured with sheer power. Jodi Fralick (Woburn, MA) and Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, MA) each homered for Lesley. Fralick's was a three-run shot and Saltzman hit her first grand slam of her career. Fralick finished the game with six RBI and Saltzman finished with four RBI. Sarah Wilson (Lowell, MA) was 3-4 from the plate with two runs scored and five RBI.
Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, MA), Courtnie Leakeas (Lowell, MA) and Alicia Pari (North Providence, RI) were the catalysts for the offense once again. All three of them scored four runs and drove in two RBI. Pari was 4-4 in the game while Cabral-Pini and Leakeas both went 3-4 in the game with a walk each. Gianna Spaziante (Hawthorne, NY) was 3-5 in the game with two runs scored and two RBI.
Game 2
Lesley cooled down a little in the second game and was unable to match the 23 runs that they scored in the first game. However, they were able to warm up the bats late en route to an 11-4 victory to complete the sweep against Becker.
The Lynx jumped out to 5-0 lead after two and a half and it looked like once again that they were going to cruise past Becker. With the 23 run defeat extremely fresh in their minds Becker was not going to roll over again that easy. They turned up the heat on the Lynx and sparked a four run third inning to bring the game to 5-4. Lesley would get an insurance run in the fourth to increase the lead to 6-4. However, going into the seventh inning Lesley was not feeling safe and a big upset was looming for Becker to grab. That thought was short lived as Lesley opened the game wide open with five runs in the seventh, shooting down any comeback hopes for Becker.
Mikos would come into the game in relief and walk away with her second win of the day. The victory improves Mikos' record to 8-3 on the year. Mikos pitched near flawless softball for the second straight game. She let up zero runs while giving up just four hits and striking out four batters in four and a third innings.
Pari continued her amazing day at the plate. Pari went 4-4 in the second game with a run scored and a RBI. Pari finished the day against Becker College an amazing 8-8 with five runs scored and three RBI.
Saltzman and Wilson once again supplied the power for Lesley as the drove in three RBI and two RBI respectively. Spaziante, Fralick and Katie Wilson (Kittery, ME) each had two hits a piece in the second game.
With the two victories the Lynx improve to 14-5 overall and 4-2 in the NAC on the season, their best start in school history. Lesley is currently on an eight game win streak and looks to continue that when they face Elms College this weekend. For more information on the Lesley softball team please go to their website.