KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Lesley University softball team closed out their 2017 spring break schedule in Florida falling to regional opponent Springfield College, 6-3, and Ramapo College, 8-0, Thursday morning. Senior Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) led the Lynx posting a staggering 1.106 OPS with a .452 on-base percentage and a .654 slugging percentage over the eight-game week.
GAME 1: Springfield 6, Lesley 3
Lesley ran into a tough Springfield College squad Thursday morning. The Pride gave starter Shelby Allen run support before she even stepped in the circle, scoring once in the top of the first. It was enough for Allen the first time through the order as she kept the Lynx off balance retiring seven straight Lynx – including striking out the side second inning.
Springfield leftfielder Allie Wheeler added to the Pride lead opening up the third inning with a lead-off homerun to put the Pride on top by two. They added to their lead two innings later, in the top of the fifth, pushing across three more insurance runs to increase their lead to 5-0.
It was needed because the Lynx were able to chip away at the deficit scoring twice in the home-half of the fifth. Junior leftfielder Courtney Goggin (Cheshire, Conn.) ripped an opposite field single before advancing to second when junior centerfield Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass.) reached on an error. Golden drove in the pair of outfielders lining a double into centerfield to cut the deficit to 5-2.
The Pride got a run back in the top of the seventh but the Lynx were not going away quietly. Against a new Springfield pitcher, Golden ripped an opposite field one-out single into rightfield. Senior Hannah Levensailor (Ayer, Mass.) pinch-ran for Golden and came around to score two batters later on base-hit by first year Ally Murphy (Raynham, Mass.) to cut the Pride lead in half.
However it was all they would be able to get as Springfield's Marisa Valenti got first year Sarah Bushman (Aurora, Colo.) to fly out to leftfield to end the game.
GAME 2: Ramapo 8, Lesley 0
In their second game of the day and final game in the Sunshine State, Golden went two-for-three with a double from the top of the line-up against another tough opponent, Ramapo College. However the Roadrunners were able to get the best of the Lynx escaping with an 8-0 victory.
Ramapo starter Katrina Buczkowski tossed a five inning, five-hit shut-out while striking out four opposing batters en route to her third victory of the season improving to 3-1. First baseman Nicole Mahoney powered the offense going three-for-four with a solo homerun and three RBI in the win.
Golden closed out the eight-game week leading the Lynx with a team-best .385 batting average with five doubles while driving in six base-runners. Additionally, the California native recorded two hits in each of her last three games.
Lesley closes out their 2017 spring break trip with a 1-7 record and will return to the diamond Monday March 20th when they travel into the city for a non-conference double-header against Emerson College at 5:00 p.m.