CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – First year leftfielder Patricia Muratore (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two to complete the 3-2 comeback and sweep non-conference Dean College, Friday afternoon.
Trailing by two runs in the bottom of the sixth, first year backstop Allyson Murphy (Raynham, Mass.) ripped a one-out double the opposite way. Two batters later she advanced to third when fellow first year rightfielder Sarah Bushman (Aurora, Colo.) pulled a single into leftfield. Just like that the Lynx were threatening to score with runners at the corners and two outs.
Pinch-hitting for senior starter Alyson Nisbet (Clovis, Calif.), senior Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) roped a line-drive single into left to plate Murphy. Bulldog leftfielder Danielle Dumont (Nashua, N.H.) let the ball roll under her glove as Bushman came in to tie the game. The Lynx were far from done.
Moments later Dean starter Karissa Menzinger (Centereach, N.Y.) uncorked a wild pitch to send Golden to third and place the go-ahead run just 60-feet away. Muratore came through in the clutch dropping a base-hit into rightfield to bring home Golden and take their first lead.
Returning to the mound at the start of the seventh, Nisbet quickly retired the side in order to earn her third victory of the season tossing a complete game allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out five.
Game 1: Lesley 3, Dean 1
The Lynx took game one of the twin-bill with 3-1. First year Sarah Bushman (Aurora, Colo.) tied her career single-game high in strikeouts fanning 10 opposing batters while allowing one unearned run on four hits to earn her fourth win of the season.
Taking advantage of two Lynx mistakes in the top of the second, the Bulldogs were able to push across a run to take the 1-0 lead. It did not last for very long as Bushman settled down to keep the Lynx in the ballgame and give the offense an opportunity to heat up.
After one time through the order the Lynx caught up to Dean sophomore right-hander Angelina Taylor (Bellingham, Mass.). Senior third baseman Carlyn Barker (Temecula, Calif.) opened the bottom of the fourth lining a single into leftfield. She quickly got herself into scoring position with a steal of second then advanced to third on ground out before scoring on wild pitch to tie the game at one.
An inning later, the Lynx were able to capitalize on three Bulldog mistakes. Sophomore first baseman Jordan Raab (Rochester, N.H.) reached on catcher's interference to begin the frame then got herself into scoring position with a steal of second. Raab advanced 60-feet after junior second baseman Courtney Goggin (Chesire, Conn.) reached on a two-base error then scored the second run on a sacrifice bunt by junior Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass.). Golden gave the Lynx an insurance run driving home Goggin lining a laser back where it came from to give the Lynx the 3-1 lead. It was more than enough for the win.
Lesley improves to 8-13 on the season while Dean drops back down to .500 falling to 7-7. The Lynx return to New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action tomorrow morning when traveling to Southern Vermont College. First pitch is slated for 11:30 a.m.