KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Lesley University softball team dropped two games to Skidmore College and Case Western Reserve University, Wednesday morning.
Game 1: Skidmore 3, Lesley 2
Skidmore took the early 1-0 lead scoring in the bottom of the first and it appeared as if it was all Thoroughbred starter Emily Popp would need. Popp, who made her third start of the season, kept the Lynx offense off the scoreboard for the first five innings retiring the first eight batters she faced.
The Thoroughbreds were knocking on the door of their third win the season but it was not going to be easy. In the top of the sixth, the Lynx took advantage of two costly mistakes in the field by the Thoroughbreds. Senior rightfielder Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) reached on an error by her counterpart in rightfield. Golden went from first to third on a base-hit by sophomore shortstop Abby Henderson (Rochester, N.H.) before scoring the Lynx first run on a ground-out by sophomore first baseman Jordan Raab (Rochester, N.H.). Moments later Henderson came in to tie the game on a passed ball.
Neither team was able to push across a run in the seventh so the game went into the eighth all square at two. In the top of the inning, Popp fanned two of the three batters she faced before Maddie Nelson drove home Heather Mak from second with the game-winning run the bottom of the frame.
First year right-hander Sarah Bushman (Aurora, Colo.) went the distance allowing three runs – only one earned – on four hits while striking out a single-game high seven Thoroughbreds. Popp earned the victory allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out 11.
Game 2: Case Western 7, Lesley 1
Case Western wasted little time pushing across two runs in the top of the first inning then added to their lead scoring twice more two innings later to take a 4-0 advantage. It was more than enough for Spartan starter Nicole Carty who earned her first win of the season allowing just one run in five innings while striking out three.
The Lynx were able to string together some hits in the bottom of the fifth. Junior centerfielder Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass.) opened with a base-hit then got on her horse coming around to score on a double from Golden. But it was all they would be able to muster as the Spartans were too locked in offensively and in the circle.
Making her third start of the season senior right-hander Alyson Nisbet (Clovis, Calif.) faced 25 batters in 4.1 innings while striking out one batter. Junior right-hander Kaera Wyse (Reading, Mass.) came on and finished off the game tossing 2.2 innings allowing just one hit and one walk.
Lesley will complete their spring break trip in Florida tomorrow morning when they face regional foe Springfield College at 9:00 a.m. then Ramapo College at 11:15 a.m.