JAMAICA PLAIN, MA -- A seven-run third inning in the opener and five-run fifth in Game 2 powered a pair of Newbury wins over Lesley on Sunday, as the Lynx fell 8-2 and 9-2, respectively.
Lynx catcher Jeff Gonzalez went a combined 3-for-6 with a run scored and two driven in over the two games. The sophomore backstop went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Game 1 and shortstop Aquib Shah did the same in the second game, but Newbury's two big innings were too much for the Lynx to overcome.
The Lynx got on the board early off Game 1 starter Christopher Ninteau. With one out in the first, Shah singled and stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Gonzalez single, putting the visitors on top 1-0 after one.
Lynx starter Noah Shaw punched out two batters looking in the bottom half of the inning, and the lead held until the Nighthawks seven-run explosion in the third. Patrick Curry sparked the rally with a two-run triple on which he came around to score after an arrant Jeff Landry throw, with the triple also giving Curry Newbury's all-time RBI record. First baseman Alex Chetelat singled home two more and came around to score on a Michael Dwyer two-run homer that capped the seven-run outburst.
With Newbury leading comfortably, 7-1, Lesley loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth but managed only one run thanks to a pair of fielder's choices. Given plenty of offense, Ninteau coasted to a line of five hits, six strikeouts, a walk and two earned runs, going all seven innings in improving to 4-1 as Newbury rolled, 8-2.
Lynx Game 2 starter Ryan Genua ran into some trouble in the second, walking a pair and giving up an RBI double, but the freshman lefty settled down through the middle innings, and Lesley responded to tie the game in the fifth. Shaw led off the frame with a single and came around to score on a Landry ground out to the mound, but the Nighthawks distanced themselves in the bottom of the inning.
Curry crushed a two-run homer and Daniel Kovner added a two-run triple, giving Newbury a cushion enough for its own freshman starter, Travis Wade, who Lesley batters couldn't solve in his six innings. Wade fanned 11 Lynx over six, walking only two and allowing two earned runs on five hits in improving to 1-1 with the 9-2 win.
Newbury got back to the .500 mark at 9-9 (2-3 NECC), while Lesley falls to 0-7 (0-2 NECC). The Lynx are back in action on Tuesday in the team's first-ever home game as Lesley plays host to Rivier at 3:30 p.m. at Somerville's Trum Field.