BABSON PARK, Mass.— In their first trip back to the NCAA Regional Tournament since 2014, the Lesley University softball team fell to host Babson College, 4-0, Friday afternoon. First year right-hander Sarah Bushman (Aurora, Colo.) took the loss falling to 13-8 on the season despite tossing a strong six innings allowing only three earned runs while striking out one.
Babson junior Ali Reilly (New Canaan, Conn.) kept the Lynx off balance in the circle for the Beavers tossing a four-hit shutout. After sophomore first baseman Jordan Raab (Rochester, N.H.) led off the second with a double into left-center, Reilly retired the next 15 batters she faced. Senior third baseman Carlyn Barker (Temecula, Calif.) broke up the string with a base-hit up the middle in the top of the seventh.
With its ninth win in 10 games, Babson is now 29-13 overall, while Lesley slips to 22-18 on the year.
Reilly (13-7) struck out eight and walked just one, while sophomore Josephine Mares (Houston, Texas) went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Beavers. First-year Kayla Schinik (Watchung, N.J.) reached base twice and junior Samantha Smith (Hillsborough, N.J.) doubled and scored in the win.
Barker went 2-for-3 and Raab went 1-for-3 with a double for the Lynx.
The Green and White, which stranded a pair of runners in the first inning, broke the scoreless deadlock in the third. Mares singled to right and ended up on third a batter later when Schinik's sacrifice bunt resulted in a two-base error. Quine followed with a hard single to center field to make it 2-0.
The Beavers added to their advantage in the fourth when first-year Annie Mitchell (Rehoboth, Mass.) and Smith drew back-to-back walks and moved into scoring position on a double steal before scoring on an RBI groundout by first-year Jacqueline Paul (Burlington, N.J.) and a single by Mares for a 4-0 edge.
Reilly worked around Raab's lead-off double to start the second with back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat, and retired 15 straight batters prior to Barker's single to start the seventh. Lesley loaded the bases with another single and a walk before Reilly got a pop up in foul territory to end the game.
Both teams are back in action on Saturday as Babson takes on Rowan (32-9) at 9 a.m., while Lesley faces Framingham State (30-12) in an elimination game at 11:30 a.m. at Alumni Field.
- Game recap provided by Babson College Athletics Communications
