BENNINGTON, Vt. – Senior Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) drove in a career single-game high five RBI in both games against New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) foe Southern Vermont College, Saturday afternoon. The Lynx best the Mountaineers in game one 21-1 then 21-2 in game two.
Golden went five-for-nine at the dish with four doubles, two homeruns and 10 RBI in two games against the Mountaineers.
SVC (4-12, 4-8 NECC) is back at home for its next doubleheader—that coming Wednesday when the Mountaineers host Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for a 3 p.m. non-conference start. Lesley (10-13, 7-2 NECC) takes to the diamond again at the same time on Wednesday in a non-league twin bill at Endicott College.
GAME 1: Lesley 21 – Southern Vermont 1 (5 inn.)
Lesley tacked up eight runs in the top of the first in the opener before SVC got one back in the bottom of the box. The Lynx would register another seven in the second and six more the rest of the way to win the opener.
Mountaineer sophomore shortstop Lizzy Bench (St. Petersburg, Fla.) was 1-3 with a solo home run while both junior pitcher Shea Wilson (Mesa, Ariz.) and freshman second baseman Brooke Gates (Pittsfield, Mass.) were both 1-2 in the effort.
Lesley sophomore first baseman Jordan Raab (Rochester, N.H.) was 4-5 in the game with two RBI's and two runs scored as Golden turned in a 3-5 performance at the dish with five runs batted in and another two scored; Golden was just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Freshman righty Sarah Bushman (Aurora, Calif.) went 3-5 with three runs scored and an RBI in the win.
Bushmen collected the win to even her season record at 5-5—striking out four with the start. Wilson suffered the loss (3-7) from the circle as she registered three strikeouts in the effort.
Golden began the game with a blast to center—her third homer of the year giving the Lynx an early upper hand. Lesley would add seven more throughout the inning on an additional six hits to stake a comfortable advantage.
Bench came back with a leadoff home run of her own in the bottom of the first for her sixth dinger of the year; that ties for third on the all-time SVC single season record for homers and gives her eight for her collegiate career. That would be it for the Mountaineers, however, as the Lynx were able to keep the hosts off the board the rest of the way.
Lesley used six singles and a double to tack up seven runs in the second, and a run-scoring single from Golden in the third made it a 16-0 ballgame. The visitors padded their cushion through the next couple innings to keep the contest out of reach for SVC and end the game early.
GAME 2: Lesley 21 – Southern Vermont 2 (5 inn.)
Lesley put up a crooked 12-spot in the top of the first for a sizable separation in the onset of game two. Lesley extended its lead in the next four frames before SVC got two back in the bottom of the fifth to avoid the shutout.
Southern Vermont junior lefty Nicole Matthews (Pittstown, N.Y.) was 2-3 with a pair of RBI's while Gates was 1-2 with a run scored. Bench went 1-3 with a run scored as freshman third baseman Dana Clement (Berkshire, Mass.) tallied a 1-2 showing at the plate.
Golden went 2-4 with five RBI's and three runs scored to cap her stellar day, and Bushman was 2-2 with three runs batted in and another two scored. Senior Alyson Nisbet (Clovis, Calif.) supported herself with a 2-3 performance in the batter's box with a walk, a run scored, and three RBI's. Raab went 2-2 with three walks and three runs scored in the backend of the twin bill.
Nisbet went all five innings from the circle for the Lynx—chalking up four strikeouts in the win (4-6). Matthews took the loss (1-5) with four strikeouts on the rubber for SVC.
Lesley utilized three doubles and a triple in the first to jump on top 12-0. A Bushman triple helped Lesley cross the plate three times in the second, and the visitors added four in the fourth with a three-run homer off the bat of Golden.
After Lesley went up 20-0 in the top of the fifth, SVC got on the board with a pair. Gates started the box with a single to center, and Bench added a one-out hit through the left side. Wilson walked to load the bases before Matthews tagged a two-run single to center for the lead runners to score. Lesley wrapped up the game with a strikeout, however, to finish off the sweep.
- Game story provided by: Mike Nosek, Sports Information Director - Southern Vermont College