CLERMONT, Fla. – The Lesley University softball team stumbled to two losses this morning at the annual Dot Richardson Spring Games. In early morning action, the Lynx fell 7-2 to the Blazers of Hood College before dropping a 6-1 decision to Wittenberg University in the second game of the day. The Lynx fall to 0-4 to open the season.
Game One: Hood 7, Lesley 2
Hood College scored three runs in the third and two more in the fourth before adding single runs in the sixth and seventh to roll to the 7-2 win in a game in which they never trailed. Sophomore Hannah Kirk (Frederick, Md.) and senior Amy Hagerdon (Berryville, Va.) led off the third inning with consecutive singles before scoring on a Carly Farr (Thurmont, Md.) double and sacrifice fly from sophomore Ashley Fourcade (Rockville, Md.). Farr would score the third run of the inning when she came around on a single by senior Katie Jenkins (Duncannon, Pa.).
Lesley would cut into the Hood lead in the bottom half of the inning when senior Maria Nazzaro (North Reading, Mass.) drove an RBI single to right-centerfield, allowing classmate Nicole Mercurio (Wakefield, Mass.) to cross the plate.
The Lynx nearly escaped a bases-loaded threat by the Blazers in the top of the fourth inning, but an error in the infield allowed two Hood runners to score to increase their lead to 5-1. The Blazers would tack on another run in the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, a Mercurio bases-loaded single would drive in sophomore Angela Mukai (Amherst, N.H.) to cut the deficit to four. Blazers starter Keerstie Robinson (Windsor, Pa.) forced the Lynx to strand the bases full by getting two fly outs to limit the damage to just one run.
Mercurio led the Lynx offense, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI while Golden, Fountain, and Nazzaro also picked up hits for Lesley.
Game Two: Wittenberg 6, Lesley 1
Wittenberg used three doubles in the bottom of the third to break a scoreless tie and take a 2-0 advantage. Kaela Hughes (Columbus, Ohio) led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a double by sophomore Shannon Lance (Loveland, Ohio) before senior Laura Rose (Riverside, Ohio) connected for a two-run double. Rachel Ross (Westerville, Ohio) followed Rose with a run-scoring double of her own to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Lesley would get on the board in the top of the fifth when Mekenzi Golden plated fellow freshman Carlyn Barker (Marietta, Calif.) with an RBI single to left field. The Lynx could not muster another hit in the inning, stranding two runners on base when Ross got the final out of the inning on a ground ball to third base.
Wittenberg would answer and cap the game's scoring with three more runs in the bottom half of the inning to push their lead to 6-1.
Golden finished 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI for the Lynx while senior Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J.) and Barker each finished with a hit.
Lesley will return to action with a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 12th. The Lynx will square off with Bowdoin at 9:00a before matching up with Manhattanville at 1:00p at the National Training Center.