Story courtesy of Rob Palardy, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The Lesley University softball team took game one of a non-conference doubleheader with Framingham State College 7-1 behind a dominating, eight-strikeout pitching performance from Cassandra Knox (SEA CLIFF, N.Y./North Shore).  The Lynx dropped game two 7-6, but now currently stand at 13-9 (6-0 NECC). 

Game One

Knox pitched a gem in game one, holding the Rams to just five hits as she struck out eight batters.  The Rams only run of the game came in the fifth inning when they compiled two of their five hits.

Lesley scored two runs in the first inning on an RBI fielder's choice from outfielder Alyson Durben (STOW, Mass./Nashoba Regional) and on an attempted double steal play.  The Lynx added two more in the third on RBI singles from Durben and Georgia Saltzman (LYNN, Mass./Lynn English).

The Lynx tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh as Durben picked up her second hit of the game and third RBI and Saltzman drove in two more on a double to centerfield.

Jodi Fralick (WOBURN, Mass./Woburn) stole two bases in the game to increase her team-high total to 27. 

Game Two

The Lynx took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Emily Mangiaratti (AMHERST, Mass./Amherst Regional) led off the game with a triple to deep left and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Jessica Guevara (NANTUCKET, Mass./Nantucket). 

Lesley added another run in the second as Saltzman scored on a double steal to take a 2-0 lead and four more runs in the top of third to hold a 6-0 advantage.  Durben picked up two more RBI on a triple to centerfield and scored on a pass ball, while Fralick knocked in a run on a double to left field.

Knox started on the  mound again for the Lynx and was solid through three innings, giving up no runs.  Molly Sarson (SANFORD, Maine/Sanford) replaced Knox in the circle in the fourth inning.

Framingham State's Christy Ulak (REHOBOTH, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) led off the inning with a single through the left side and came around to score the Rams first run on an RBI double by catcher Katie Donovan (HOLDEN, Mass.).

The game would head to the bottom of the seventh with Lesley leading 6-2, but the Rams scored five runs in the inning to complete a dramatic comeback victory.  Kelsey Phipps (WESTFORD, Mass./Westford Academy) hit an RBI single up the middle, Ulak doubled to left field to drive in two, and Alysia Morrissette (WARE, Mass./Ware) knocked a hard grounder to third base that plated the final two runs.

Lesley will host NECC rival Newbury College on Thursday, April 22 at 3:30 pm.