HOLYOKE, Mass. -- The Lynx put together a six-run sixth inning to take a 9-8 lead en route to a 10-8 victory over Southern Vermont College in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action. With the win, Lesley takes the season series from SVC, 2-1, and improves to 10-11 on the year and 4-6 in the NECC. The Mountaineers fall to 12-12 overall on the season and 5-4 in conference play.
SVC didn't waste any time to get on the board as they hung up three runs in the top of the first. Chris Nicastro (Cranford, N.J.) singled to lead off the game and moved to second one batter later when Cody LaBadia (Howes Caves, N.Y.) sent a single between first and second. Lynx starter Jeff Landry (Vestal, N.Y.) nearly escaped the inning after getting a strikeout to record the second out, but Roland Hernandez (Pico Rivera, Calif.) connected for a two-strike double down the left field line, knocking in both Nicastro and LaBadia.
The Mountaineers added their third run of the inning when Sal Sciara (Massapequa, N.Y.) followed Hernandez with an RBI double of his own, giving SVC a 3-0 lead.
The Lynx answered right back and tied the game with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Rob Parson (Commack, N.Y.) and Adam Ciampi (Westford, Mass.) both reached to start the inning after getting hit by a pitch and drawing a walk, respectively. Lesley rightfielder Tyler Plourd (Canton, Conn.) then got the scoring going when he knocked in his first of three RBI's on the night when his single to left allowed Parson to score. One batter later, senior short stop Aqib Shah (Watertown, Mass.) hit a double deep into the left-center gap, plating both Ciampi and Plourd and tying the game at 3-3.
After adding a run and taking a 4-3 lead in the top of the third, the Mountaineers would add two more in the fourth and give them a three run cushion. Sophomore Jarod Hayen (Esperance, N.Y.) led off the fourth with a single, stole second and third, and came around when LaBadia grounded out to second. SVC got their second run when senior designated hitter Corey Armstrong (Bennington, Vt.) singled back through the box, allowing Nicastro to come around after he singled earlier in the inning.
The Mountaineers would take a commanding 8-3 lead in the sixth when Sciara singled down the right field line that brought LaBadia and Armstrong around.
The Lynx, who had not had a hit since the first inning, finally got their offense in gear in the bottom of the inning. Lesley would load the bases with no outs with back-to-back singles by Kevin Hopwood (Winter Haven, Fla.) and Shah and a walk by sophomore Ray Cohen (Coventry, Conn.). John Gosnell (Toronto, Canada) knocked in the innings first run by legging out an infield single and two more runs came around when catcher David Hersey (Wolfeboro, N.H.) blasted a double to left, cutting the SVC lead to two. Lesley loaded the bases again when Ryan Genua (Prospect, Conn.) drew a pinch-hit walk and the scoring continued when Parson followed that with an RBI single to left.
Lesley tied the game when Hersey crossed the plate on a passed ball and took their first lead of the game when Plourd hit a sacrifice-fly to right field that allowed Parson to score.
The Lynx got a great effort from the bullpen as freshmen Forrest Steevens (Wilton, N.H.), who relieved Landry in the sixth, and Koby Mitchell (Fall River, Mass.) combined for 2.2 scoreless innings. Both relievers had to work out of a couple jams as Steevens stranded a runner at third in the seventh and Mitchell left a runner on second when he got a key strikeout to end the eighth.
Lesley added an insurance run in the eighth when Plourd singled in his third RBI of the game and Hopwood came in for a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to earn his third save of the season.
The Mountaineers, who racked up 17 hits in the game, had seven players record two or more. LaBadia finished 3-5 with an RBI and two runs scored while Sciara also finished with three hits and drove in two. Hayen finished the game a perfect 3-3 while swiping four bases.
Leading the way for the Lynx was Plourd who went 2-4 with three RBI and a runs scored while Shah also had two hits and two RBI. Parson reached base safely three times from the leadoff spot, finishing with two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI.
Mitchell and Steevens, who earned his first win of his collegiate career, have combined to throw 18.2 innings of scoreless ball so far this season.
The Lynx return to the diamond on Thursday when they wrap up their season series with Newbury College at Victory Field in Watertown, Mass. At 5:30. The Mountaineers are back in NECC action tomorrow when they host Daniel Webster College for a doubleheader starting at 1:00p.
HOLYOKE, Mass. -- The Lynx put together a six-run sixth inning to take a 9-8 lead en route to a 10-8 victory over Southern Vermont College in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action. With the win, Lesley takes the season series from SVC, 2-1, and improves to 10-11 on the year and 4-6 in the NECC. The Mountaineers fall to 12-12 overall on the season and 5-4 in conference play.
SVC didn't waste any time to get on the board as they hung up three runs in the top of the first. Chris Nicastro (Cranford, N.J.) singled to lead off the game and moved to second one batter later when Cody LaBadia (Howes Caves, N.Y.) sent a single between first and second. Lynx starter Jeff Landry (Vestal, N.Y.) nearly escaped the inning after getting a strikeout to record the second out, but Roland Hernandez (Pico Rivera, Calif.) connected for a two-strike double down the left field line, knocking in both Nicastro and LaBadia.
The Mountaineers added their third run of the inning when Sal Sciara (Massapequa, N.Y.) followed Hernandez with an RBI double of his own, giving SVC a 3-0 lead.
The Lynx answered right back and tied the game with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Rob Parson (Commack, N.Y.) and Adam Ciampi (Westford, Mass.) both reached to start the inning after getting hit by a pitch and drawing a walk, respectively. Lesley rightfielder Tyler Plourd (Canton, Conn.) then got the scoring going when he knocked in his first of three RBI's on the night when his single to left allowed Parson to score. One batter later, senior short stop Aqib Shah (Watertown, Mass.) hit a double deep into the left-center gap, plating both Ciampi and Plourd and tying the game at 3-3.
After adding a run and taking a 4-3 lead in the top of the third, the Mountaineers would add two more in the fourth and give them a three run cushion. Sophomore Jarod Hayen (Esperance, N.Y.) led off the fourth with a single, stole second and third, and came around when LaBadia grounded out to second. SVC got their second run when senior designated hitter Corey Armstrong (Bennington, Vt.) singled back through the box, allowing Nicastro to come around after he singled earlier in the inning.
The Mountaineers would take a commanding 8-3 lead in the sixth when Sciara singled down the right field line that brought LaBadia and Armstrong around.
The Lynx, who had not had a hit since the first inning, finally got their offense in gear in the bottom of the inning. Lesley would load the bases with no outs with back-to-back singles by Kevin Hopwood (Winter Haven, Fla.) and Shah and a walk by sophomore Ray Cohen (Coventry, Conn.). John Gosnell (Toronto, Canada) knocked in the innings first run by legging out an infield single and two more runs came around when catcher David Hersey (Wolfeboro, N.H.) blasted a double to left, cutting the SVC lead to two. Lesley loaded the bases again when Ryan Genua (Prospect, Conn.) drew a pinch-hit walk and the scoring continued when Parson followed that with an RBI single to left.
Lesley tied the game when Hersey crossed the plate on a passed ball and took their first lead of the game when Plourd hit a sacrifice-fly to right field that allowed Parson to score.
The Lynx got a great effort from the bullpen as freshmen Forrest Steevens (Wilton, N.H.), who relieved Landry in the sixth, and Koby Mitchell (Fall River, Mass.) combined for 2.2 scoreless innings. Both relievers had to work out of a couple jams as Steevens stranded a runner at third in the seventh and Mitchell left a runner on second when he got a key strikeout to end the eighth.
Lesley added an insurance run in the eighth when Plourd singled in his third RBI of the game and Hopwood came in for a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to earn his third save of the season.
The Mountaineers, who racked up 17 hits in the game, had seven players record two or more. LaBadia finished 3-5 with an RBI and two runs scored while Sciara also finished with three hits and drove in two. Hayen finished the game a perfect 3-3 while swiping four bases.
Leading the way for the Lynx was Plourd who went 2-4 with three RBI and a runs scored while Shah also had two hits and two RBI. Parson reached base safely three times from the leadoff spot, finishing with two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI.
Mitchell and Steevens, who earned his first win of his collegiate career, have combined to throw 18.2 innings of scoreless ball so far this season.
The Lynx return to the diamond on Thursday when they wrap up their season series with Newbury College at Victory Field in Watertown, Mass. At 5:30. The Mountaineers are back in NECC action tomorrow when they host Daniel Webster College for a doubleheader starting at 1:00p.