WESTON, Mass. – The Lesley University softball team won their sixth in a row, sweeping a doubleheader from Regis College this afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action on the Regis campus. The Lynx took an 8-2 decision to win game one while forcing the mercy rule in game two with a score of 9-0 in five innings. The Lynx improve to 7-11 on the year and a perfect 6-0 in NECC play while the Pride fall to 3-12 overall and 3-5 in the conference.
Game One: Lesley 8, Regis 2
The Lynx got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning when senior Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J.) doubled to deep centerfield, bringing home junior Jodee Doka (Sacramento, Calif.) for the game's first run.
Regis answered with a two out rally in the top of the fourth. With one on and two out, the Pride hit three straight singles to take a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.) registered the first run-scoring hit of the inning, smacking a single to right with runners on the corners to plate classmate Kirbie Garvey (Littleton, Mass.). Freshman Rachel Tortora (Malden, Mass.) followed Cuozzo with an RBI single of her own that scored sophomore Alyssa McKinnon (Raynham, Mass.).
The lead did not last long for the Pride as Lesley senior Maria Nazzaro (North Reading, Mass.) placed a single into left field to score Doka in the bottom of the inning.
The Lynx would break the 2-2 tie in the bottom half of the fifth. Freshman Carlyn Barker (San Diego, Calif.) led off the inning with a single before coming around on a double off the centerfield fence by classmate Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.). Senior Nicole Mercurio (Wakefield, Mass.) followed Golden with an RBI single to center to give Lesley a 4-2 edge.
Lesley would give themselves a cushion with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Golden blasted her third home run of the season, a two run blast to right-centerfield before Doka picked up her third hit of the game with a two-run double to left field.
Doka and Golden led the Lynx attack as they combined for five hits, four runs, and four RBI. Mercurio, Barker, and sophomore Angela Mukai (Amherst, N.H.) each finished with two hits for Lesley.
Garvey finished 2-for-4 with a run scored from the top of the Pride lineup while Cuozzo also picked up two hits, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Lesley starter Allison Nisbet (Clovis, Calif.) continued her hot stretch in the circle, earning her fourth win of the season with a complete game effort, giving up seven hits, two runs, and striking out five.
Cuozzo went the distance for the Pride, striking out three while being charged with three earned runs.
Game Two: Lesley 9, Regis 0 (Five innings)
The Lesley bats stayed active in the second game of the afternoon as they opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Mercurio led off the inning with a single up the middle coming around on a single by Doka. One batter later, Apgar connected for a triple to right-centerfield, scoring Doka for the Lynx' second run of the game. Apgar would cross the plate on a pass ball as the Lynx jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
The Pride threatened in the top of the third inning as they loaded the bases with no outs, but Lesley starter Jordan Thomas (Fitchburg, Mass.) worked her way out of the jam unscathed as she forced three straight ground balls for outs at the plate to preserve the shutout.
Lesley would open the game up in the following inning as they took advantage of several Regis miscues. The Pride were charged with four errors in the inning, leading to six runs for the Lynx to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
Once again Doka found herself at the center of the Lynx attack, going 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mercurio finished game two 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
Sophomore starter Jordan Thomas (Fitchburg, Mass.) picked up her second win in as many days as she stymied the Regis bats. Thomas yielded just two hits while striking out three in the five-inning complete game.
Regis freshmen Allison Caloggero (Medford, Mass.) and Kelsey Morton (South Portland, Maine) both picked up hits for the Pride in the loss.
The Lynx will be back in action on Tuesday, April 8th when they welcome Emerson College for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3:30p. The Pride will be in NECC action on Tuesday when they travel to Becker College for a pair of games starting at 3:30p.