Franklin, MA. - Lesley University softball closed its regular season with sweep of Dean College on Saturday afternoon at Grant Field. In game one, the Lynx came away with an 8-7 win. While in game two, Lesley posted a three runs in the top of the seventh to win 4-1. The Lynx improve to 23-13 overall, meanwhile it moves to 11-5 in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action. The Bulldogs fall to 8-27 record on the season 1-13 in conference play.
GAME 1-LESLEY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Both teams would have to wait until the third inning to score runs. Lesley jumped on the ball with Mahlia Medina (Winchester, CA.) and Jordan Day (Seminole, FL.) each recording singles to get on base. Then, with two outs, Ashleigh Acker (Apopka, FL.) reached on an error to centerfield allowing both Medina and Day to score. The Bulldogs would respond with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, to tie the game at 2-2.
- Lesley would break the dead lock in the next inning from a Lindsey Jensen (Milton, MA.) sacrifice fly to score Antonia Kieran (Wilmington, MA.) from third. However, the Bulldogs would take the lead with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Dean held its first lead of the day after four innings, 5-3.
- Now trailing, Lesley responded with three runs in the top of the fifth to take back the lead. Day reached second on a ground rule double, then Acker brought Day home after an error in the outfield. The next batter, Ally Murphy (Raynham, MA.) launched her third homerun of the season to tilt the score to the Lynx, 6-5.
- The Lynx would add a run to its slim lead in the sixth. Sam Jensen (Milton, MA.) started with a leadoff double, Medina then reached on a Bulldog error bringing S. Jensen home. However, the Bulldogs would pull two runs back in the bottom of the sixth, putting the score at 7-7 heading to the seventh.
- In the seventh, Day reached third base after a single followed by heads up base running, to setup a sacrifice fly from Murphy. This gave the Lynx a one run lead heading into the bottom of the inning. Lesley would prevail as the bulldogs could not push a run across, final 8-7.
- Jen Thorburn (Groton, MA.) claims the win in relief pitching 3.2 innings of work, while collecting six strikeouts and allowing just two runs.
- The Lynx as a group collected 13 hits from six different student-athletes. Day led from the dish with four hits from four at bats, while S. Jensen had three hits.
GAME 2-LESLEY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Lesley would strike first in the second inning. After Murphy began the inning with a double, Jordan Raab (Rochester, N.H.) reached on an error to push Murphy to third. The error resulted in the ball going out of play, bringing Murphy to the plate for the Lynx first run.
- Dean would however reply in the fifth inning as they loaded the bases and pushed a run across the plate. The Bulldogs could not make the most of the opportunity as that would be all they could put together. Both teams were knotted up at 1-1 after five innings.
- Lesley would leave it late as Acker came to the plate with no outs and the bases loaded. Acker would clear the bases on a single and push the Lynx ahead 4-1 on the base hit. Lesley would head to the bottom of the inning and finish sweep, with a 4-1 final
- Kara Haga (Levittown, N.Y.) pitched a complete game just allowing five hits in the win, while registering five strikeouts and only allowing one run.
- Lesley posted seven hits as a team, with Pickett leading the way with three hits. Acker collected three RBI's on the afternoon.
UP NEXT
Lesley (23-13, 11-5) have qualified for NECC tournament, but wait for seeding as the Lynx could finish between third or fourth depending on other results. The first round of the NECC Softball tournament begins on Tuesday, April 30. Dean College (8-27, 1-13) wrap up regular season as they travel to Bay Path College on Sunday, April 28, for DH, with first pitch at 1:00PM.
