CLERMONT, Fla. – The Lesley University softball team wrapped up their annual spring training trip to the Dot Richardson Spring Games at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. today, dropping both ends of a doubleheader with Northwestern University (Minn.) and Penn State – Behrend. The Lynx return to Cambridge with a 1-7 record and will return to regional play on Friday, March 21st when they travel to Wheaton College for a doubleheader with the Lyons.
Game One: Northwestern (Minn.) 9, Lesley 7
The Lynx jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third inning, but the Eagles rallied for three in the fifth, four in the sixth, and two in the seventh to outlast Lesley, 9-7.
Sophomore Sydney Thayer (Reading, Mass.) got the Lesley offense going in the third inning with a double to left field before scoring when senior Maria Nazzaro (North Reading, Mass.) reached on an error. After freshman Carlyn Barker (Marietta, Calif.) reached via a hit by pitch, senior Allison Fountain (Cheshire, Conn.) followed with an RBI single to left field. Freshman Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) joined the rally with a two-run double before scoring when sophomore Angela Mukai (Amherst, N.H.) reached on a Northwestern error in the infield as the Lynx grabbed a 5-0 lead.
The Eagles cut into the Lynx lead with a two-out rally in the top of the fifth inning. Freshman Jennifer Ankram (New Hampton, Iowa) delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single before senior Erin Kleinjan (Avon, Minn.) followed with an RBI single of her own as the Eagles cut the deficit to 5-3.
Northwestern carried that momentum into the sixth inning as Kelsey Stoltman (Shoreview, Minn.) sparked the scoring with an RBI single that allowed Colleen Feldheim (Northfield, Ill.) to cross the plate. Freshman Megan Threlkeld (Burnsville, Minn.) reached on a Lynx error that brought home another run before Ankram hit her second two-run single in as many innings to give the Eagles a 7-5 lead.
The lead would not last long as the Lynx would notch the score at 7-7 with back-to-back run scoring singles from Nazzaro and fellow senior Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J.) in the bottom of the sixth.
After Northwestern's first two batters on the top of the 7th were retired, the Eagles loaded the bases with a Stoltman single and consecutive walks to Emily Geurkink (Baldwin, Wis.) and Threlkeld. Ankram found herself at the center of the Eagle offense once again, as she reached on an Lynx error that allowed two runs to cross the plate and Northwestern to regain a 9-7 edge.
Lesley put the tying-run to the plate after a Godlen one out single, but Northwestern reliever Lauren Silbernick (Osakis, Minn.) escaped the jam with no damage to earn her first win of the year.
Thayer and Golden led the Lynx offense with two hits apiece while Ankram registered a game-high three RBI.
Game Two: Penn State-Behrend 5, Lesley 3
The Lynx struck first when Golden smacked a single to centerfield to plate Barker, but the Lions answered with a two out rally in the bottom of the opening inning to quickly erase the Lesley lead. PSB freshman Amanda Krolczyk (Union City, Pa.) started the rally with a double before coming around on a double by classmate Maddie Mulig (Shaler, Pa.). A single by sophomore Kelly Hedderick (Waterford, Pa.) brought home the Lions' second run before freshman Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, Vt.) registered the third straight hit of the inning with a single to score Hedderick.
The Lynx put together a rally of their own in the top of the second to tie things up once again. Junior Jodee Doka (Sacramento, Calif.) reached on an error and moved to second on a single by Nazzaro. Fountain would pick up a pair of RBI when she doubled to left field as the Lynx knotted the score at 3-3.
The Lions regained their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when senior Kelsey Fuller (Albion, Pa.) singled home Sydney Sherrieb (Washington, Pa.) and Rachel Miller (North East, Pa.) and pulled ahead 5-3.
The Lynx threatened in the each the fifth and sixth innings, but could not cut into the lead as Lions pitcher Miller held on to record her second win of the year.
Nazzaro finished 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Lynx while Fountain went 1-3 with a walk and a pair of RBI. Golden extended her hitting-streak to a season-long eight games. The freshman finishes the spring trip batting a team-high .500 (12-for-24) with10 RBI and five runs scored.