NEWTON, Mass. – Lesley University scored a combined 29 runs on 20 hits as the Lynx slugged their way to a New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader sweep over Southern Vermont College this afternoon on Senior Day. The Lynx scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning in game once as they ran away for a 14-5 win before putting together an 11-run fourth inning in the nightcap to secure a 15-0 triumph.
The pair of victories pushes the Lynx –winners in seven of their last eight – to 12-10 overall and 9-1 in the NECC standings while the Mountaineers slip to 3-17 on the season and 3-9 in conference matchups.
After the completion of the two games, Lesley celebrated the careers of seniors Jess Reynolds (Londonderry, N.H.), Selena Quezada (West Covina, Calif.), Sydney Thayer (Reading, Mass.) and Ashliegh Ramirez (Newport, Ore.) for their dedication to the Lesley softball program and Athletics Department.
Both teams will return to action with conference doubleheaders tomorrow as Lesley will head to Wheelock College at 10:00a and SVC will travel to Newbury College for a pair starting at 2:00p.
Game One: SVC 5, Lesley 14 (Final – 5 Innings)
Box Score
The Mountaineers would score the first run of the game in the top of the first inning as freshman Christina Moore (Wilmington, Vt.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the visitors an early one-run advantage.
The lead would not last long, however, as the Lynx offense was hot from the get-go as they answered with eight runs in the bottom of the inning. A pair of Mountaineer errors allowed Lesley to plate the first two runs of the inning and sophomore Courtney Goggin (Cheshire, Conn.) beat out an infield single to score junior Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.). A wild pitch, a sacrifice-fly, and fielder's choice pushed across three more before Quezada and junior Carlyn Barker (Temecula, Calif.) roped back-to-back doubles to cap the scoring in the inning and stake an 8-1 Lesley lead.
SVC would connect for a pair of runs in the second and third innings as sophomore Nicole Matthews (Pittstown, N.Y.) and freshman Lizzy Bench (St. Petersburg, Fla.) each knocked two-run doubles, but Lesley would respond with a trio of runs in each inning to race to the 14-5 five-inning victory.
Quezada put together quite the performance at the plate in her Senior Day opener as she went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. Reynolds and Thayer also put together a nice effort at the dish, each collecting a pair of hits while Reynolds crossed the plate once and Thayer registered an RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Stephanie Schofield (Redwood City, Calif.) matched a career-high three RBI to go with two hits and a run scored.
Bench and Matthews paced the Mountaineer offense with one hit and two RBI apiece. Freshman Molly Madore (Higganum, Conn.) finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
Game Two: SVC 0, Lesley 15 (Final – 5 Innings)
Box Score
Golden smacked a double down the left field line to plate sophomore Theresa Periera (Hopedale, Mass.) before scoring as freshman Abby Henderson (Rochester, N.H.) reached on an error to put the hosts up 4-0 after three innings.
The Lynx would take advantage of some shaky Mountaineer defense as five SVC errors and a pair of Lesley hits turned into an 11-run bottom of the fourth to give the Lynx a 15-0 lead. Thayer and Schofield each knocked two-run singles in the inning.
Schofield recorded her second straight two-hit game to go with two RBI and three runs scored while Golden crossed the plate twice and knocked in one with a double.
Junior Alyson Nisbet (Clovis, Calif.) allowed just one hit and struck out six to earn her fifth victory of the season. Nisbet faced just one batter over the minimum-15 and threw 40 of her 56 pitches for strikes.