CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Senior right-hander Allyson Nisbet (Clovis, Calif.) tossed a complete-game shut-out, 1-0, in game two as the Lynx swept Elms College in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action, Saturday afternoon. Nisbet tossed seven scoreless innings striking out five Blazers while scattering five hits.
The Lynx took the first game of the twin-bill with a 3-1 victory. First year right-hander Sarah Bushman (Aurora, Colo.) picked up her eighth victory of the season following a dominating performance allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven.
Game 1: Lesley 3, Elms 1
After Bushman concluded the top of the first with back-to-back strikeouts, the Lynx offense went to work pushing across two runs in the home half of the first. Senior outfielder Mekenzi Golden (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) opened the frame with a walk before coming into score on a throwing error for the first run of the game. Fellow senior, third baseman Carlyn Barker (Temecula, Calif.) drove in sophomore shortstop Abby Henderson (Rochester, N.H.) with the second Lynx run to increase their lead to 2-0.
The Blazers were able to get a run back in the top of the third. Sophomore Catherine Wrang (Middleton, Conn.) ripped a base-hit into leftfield to drive home classmate Jeszy McGuire (Brimfield, Mass.) to cut the deficit in half.
It was as close as they would get. Bushman responded retiring the next eight batters she faced including three by way of the "K."
The added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth. Senior right-fielder Hannah Levensailor (Ayer, Mass.) plated pinch-runner, first year Patricia Muratore (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) with an bunt single in the fourth to give Lesley 3-1 lead. It was more than enough for Bushman who was on her way to an 8-6 record.
Elms senior left-hander Tessa Cote (Granby, Mass.) took the loss despite striking out eight opposing batters to fall to 8-8 on the season.
Game 2: Lesley 1, Elms 0
Game two of the twin-billing was good old fashion pitcher's duel between Nisbet and sophomore right-hander Raeanna Tumel (Stafford, Conn.). The Lynx struck first blood scoring once in the bottom of the first and it proved to be all they needed.
For the second straight game, Golden opened the home half of the first pulling a single through the right side before advancing 60 feet on a single by Barker. After the pair of seniors swiped third and second, respectively, first year backstop Ally Murphy (Raynham, Mass.) walked to load the bases and knock Cote of the game. With ducks on the pond, sophomore first baseman Jordan Raab (Rochester, N.H.) came through in the clutch with a single into rightfield to bring in Golden and put the Lynx up 1-0.
Elms was threatening to tie the game in the top of the fourth. The Blazers had the bases loaded and one out but Nisbet was able to get out the inning unscathed thanks in part to tremendous defense by her veteran third baseman.
Two innings later in the top of the sixth, Nisbet was able to sneak out of another jam untouched. Senior Kacey Gifford (Suffield, Conn.) ripped a one-out single into right field then advance into scoring position on a wild pitch. But it did not rattle the Lynx right-hander. Nisbet stayed on point and got McGuire to ground out to shortstop to end the threat.
Cote took the loss dropping her to 8-10 on the season despite allowing just one run on three hits. Tumel pitched a scoreless 5.2 innings of relief scattering six hits while striking out five.
Continued Game From April 11th: Lesley 9, Newbury 2
After their doubleheader against Elms College, the Lynx finished the final inning and a half from their halted game on April 11th against conference rival Newbury College.
The Lynx enjoyed a comfortable 5-2 lead before the game was halted but when they resumed play in the top of the sixth, the Nighthawks looked poised to take advantage of two Lynx miscues. First years Arianna Gooden (Bakersfield, Calif.) and Mallory Stefan (Thornton, Colo.) reached on back-to-back errors in the middle infield. The pair moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore right-fielder Tina Babcock (Ayer, Mass.) but that's as far as they got.
Bushman was able to get senior first baseman Liz Kia (Kea'au, Hawaii) to pop out to first before striking out senior third baseman Lindsey Clark (Venice, Fla.) for the final out.
In the home half of the sixth, the Lynx were able to take advantage of two Nighthawk errors scoring four runs to pad their lead to 9-2. It was more enough for Bushman as she claimed her ninth win of the season improving to 9-6 on the year.
Lesley improves to 16-16 and 12-3 in conference while Newbury drops to 17-15 and 14-2 in NECC play. Elms drops to 13-16 and 10-6 in conference play. The Lynx return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Nashua, N.H. for two against Daniel Webster College. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.