CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Lynx moved above the .500 mark for the first time in program history tonight with an 8-4 win over Fitchburg State University tonight at Trum Field in non-conference action. Lesley moves to 8-7 on the year while Fitchburg State falls below the even watermark, falling to 9-10-1 on the season.
Lesley sophomore Ryan McQuade (Rochester, N.H.) went 3-4 at the plate with two RBI's, including a triple to right field that he ended up scoring on when the throw from right field rung the foul pole, disrupting the relay. Classmate Ray Cohen (Coventry, Conn.) finished going 2-4 with two RBI while Rob Parson (Commack, N.Y.) also knocked in two runs while scoring one of his own.
Leading the offense for the Falcons was junior Joseph Balboni (Townsend, Mass.) who went 2-3 with two walks and an RBI, while Randy Ortiz Jr. (Danielson, Conn.) also collected two hits and scored a run.
The Falcons opened the scoring as they drew bases-loaded walks in both the first and second innings. Senior Cody Bamforth (Vernon, Conn.) then knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to deep right field, allowing junior Alex Heroux (Leominster, Mass.) to cross the plate, giving Fitchburg State a 3-0 lead.
The Lynx then had a bases-loaded rally of their own as Kevin Hopwood (Winter Haven, Fla.), Cohen, and John Gosnell (Toronto, Canada) all reached to start the second. The Lynx then got back-to-back RBI singles from sophomore Joe Muratore (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and McQuade and tied it up when Parson allowed Gosnell with a groundout to the second baseman.
Lesley loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fifth inning and got a one-out single from Cohen that plated Parson and junior Tyler Plourd (Canton, Conn.) to break the tie and give the Lynx a 5-3 advantage. Lesley added one more in the inning when Gosnell knocked in a run for the third straight game when hit a sacrifice fly to right that allowed Hopwood to come across.
Trailing 6-3, the Falcons would add another tally in the top of the sixth when a two-out Balbolni triple to centerfield pushed Ortiz Jr. across, but Gosnell was able to get a pop-out for the Lynx, stranding the runner at third.
The Lynx would add one in the bottom half of the inning and another in the bottom of the eighth to take the victory, 8-4.
Freshman Forrest Steevens (Wilton, N.H.) and Hopwood combined for three scoreless innings of relief to close the door on the Falcons. Lynx starter Casey Blanchard (Bernardston, Mass.) went four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out three.
Eight wins this season matches the Lynx total in program history (0-28 in 2011, 8-26 in 2012) and with an 8-7 record, moves them above .500 for the first time.
The Lynx are back at it on Thursday when they travel to Daniel Webster College for a New England Collegiate Conference game at 3:30 while the Falcons will play host to WPI tomorrow afternoon, also at 3:30.
