CLERMONT, FL -- Lesley lost its 2012 season openers 7-6 to Ithaca College and 5-1 to the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Sophomore second base player Nicole Mercurio went 3-for-3 with a pair of two-run doubles and four RBIs against Ithaca. Center fielder Gabrielle Brixey and catcher Allison Fountain each went 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

Lesley opened up a 4-2 lead in the third before a five-run fourth from the Bombers featuring a Sydney Folk two-run homer to right center that chased starter Cassandra Knox. Florida native and junior college transfer Mary Dembinski came on for three innings of shutout relief, keeping the Lynx within a run after Mercurio's second two-run two-bagger made it a 7-6 game.

Jen Benway's club looked poised to tie or take the lead in the sixth. Pinch hitter Molly Sarson led off the inning with a base hit and senior Jenna Fralick followed with a base hit of her own, putting two on with no outs. After Ithaca starter Sam Bender forced an infield fly, Fountain lined to shortstop for an inning-ending double play, and Bender kept the Lynx off the board in the seventh to pick up the complete game win.

For Ithaca, second base player Jen Biondi and right fielder Adrienne Walters each scored twice. 

In Game 2, the Blue Devils broke open a scoreless game with three runs in the fourth off Lynx sophomore starter Jennifer Dorval. Dembinski relieved Dorval with three more efficient innings, allowing only an unearned run in her second appearance of the day. At the plate, the junior singled, stole third base and scored the Lynx lone run on a double steal with Maria Nazzaro.

Nazzaro went 1-for-3 with a walk and a steal, but the Lynx couldn't chip into the Wisconsin-Stout lead in falling 5-1.

Lesley takes Tuesday off before returning with two more games on Wednesday, taking on Heidelberg at 9 a.m. and Fitchburg State at 11 a.m.