BOSTON, Mass. – Lesley University split a doubleheader with host Emmanuel College in non-conference softball tonight at Roberto Clemente Park. The Lynx were victorious in the opener by a score of 5-2 before falling to the Saints in game two 6-2. Lesley moves to 5-9 overall on the season while Emmanuel goes to 8-7 on the season.
The Lynx will return to their home field on Saturday with a New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Mitchell College at 12:00p. Emmanuel will kick off a six game road trip on Saturday with a twin bill at St. Joseph's College (CT). First pitch for that contest is also set for 12:00p.
Game One: Lesley 5, Emmanuel 2
Box Score
Lesley freshman Abby Henderson (Manchester, N.H.), junior Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), and senior Jess Reynolds (Londonderry, N.H.) each smacked two hits to lead the offense while sophomore starter Kaera Wyse (Reading, Mass.) earned her third win of the season in a 5-2 victory for the Lynx.
Lesley opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Reynolds connected for a two-run, two-out single to plate Golden and junior Carlyn Barker (Temecula, Calif.) and stake a 2-0 lead for the visitors.
The Saints would cut that lead in half in the bottom of the inning as a fielder's choice by freshman Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) brought in senior Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.).
The Lynx would use some more two-out magic to produce a pair of runs in the top of the third. Sophomore Courtney Goggin (Cheshire, Conn.) drove a single to centerfield that allowed Henderson and Reynolds both to cross the plate and extend the Lynx lead to 4-1.
Each side would push across runs in the fourth and fifth, respectively, before the Saints would try to rally with a pair of runners in the seventh, but Lynx junior Alyson Nisbet (Clovis, Calif.) came in to get the final out of the inning and earn her second save of the season.
Wyse tossed 6 2/3 innings while allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out six. Emmanuel freshman Megan Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) suffered the loss in a complete-game effort, yielding five runs on nine hits and striking out six.
Game Two: Lesley 3, Emmanuel 6
Box Score
The Saints broke a 2-2 tie with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) blasted a run scoring double before stealing third and scoring on a wild pitch. Senior Kerrianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) kept the rally going and knocked Nisbet out of the game with a walk. Davis followed with the second RBI double of the inning and later stole home to give the hosts a 6-2 advantage.
The Lynx put together a comeback attempt in the top of the seventh as senior Selena Quezada (West Covina, Calif.) led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, a Golden single pushed Quezada into scoring position before a Henderson double brought in the senior to cut the deficit to three runs.
Kieselback would relieve Saints starter Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) and shut the door on the Lynx with a ground out and a strikeout to earn the save.
Kilcoyne struck out 12 batters and allowed just three runs on ten hits over 6 1/3 innings to improve to 4-5 on the season. Nisbet suffered the loss for the Lynx, allowing five runs on eight hits.
Quezada, Golden, and freshman Stephanie Schofield (Redwood City, Calif.) each finished with a pair of hits for the Lynx.