RINDGE, N.H. – Lesley University received two complete game shutouts from freshmen Tom Muratore (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and Nick Iadevaio (Mineola, N.Y.) as the Lynx swept a doubleheader with Daniel Webster College tonight in New England Collegiate Conference action on the campus of Franklin Pierce University. The Lynx defeated the Eagles 5-0 in game one before following up with a 6-0 win in game two as they improve to 6-9 on the season and 3-2 in NECC play. With the pair of losses, Daniel Webster slips to 3-8 on the year and 0-5 in conference action.
Reigning NECC Rookie of the Week Tom Muratore (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) threw his second consecutive complete game shutout to power the Lynx to the 5-0 victory in game one. The freshman allowed just five hits while striking out seven in seven innings of work as he improves to 3-0 on the season.
After missing the past five games due to injury, Lesley University senior Rob Parson (Commack, N.Y.) powered the offense as he finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs in his return atop the Lynx lineup. Junior Casey Blanchard (Bernardston, Mass.) went 1-for-4 with a game-high three RBI and a run scored Iadevaio added a run and finished 1-for-3 at the plate.
The Lynx opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning. After senior Joe Muratore (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) led off the inning with a walk and classmate John Gosnell (Toronto, Ont.) reached on an error before both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Plourd (Canton, Conn.). Muratore then crossed the dish for the game's first run on a fielder's choice off the bat of sophomore Mike Slaby (Foxboro, Mass.).
Lesley added another run on a Blanchard fielder's choice in the top of the fifth before adding three more in the top half of the seventh to push the lead to 5-0. Once again it was Blanchard who delivered the big hit as he drove a double down the left field line that plated Iadevaio and Parson on the play.
Daniel Webster starter Ariel Ramos (Lowell, Mass.) pitched well for the Eagles, throwing seven innings and giving up six hits, five runs (four earned), and three walks while striking out three.
Iadevaio was brilliant for the Lynx in game two, allowing just one hit in the complete game shutout as he earns the first victory of his career. The one hit allowed breaks the record for least amount of hits allowed in a game. The previous record of two hits was held by Jeff Landry '14 and Tom Muratore, who completed the feat last week.
After allowing a single in the third inning, Iadevaio erased 12 of the next 13 batters to help lead the Lynx to the doubleheader sweep.
Lesley's offense aided the rookie with a run in the first and third innings, respectively, before the Lynx put together a four run sixth to provide some breathing room. Junior Gustavo Polidor (Caracas, Venezuela) started the rally with a one-out double in the left-centerfield gap before coming around on a Blanchard double off the left field fence. Blanchard moved to third on an errant throw on the play and scored Lesley's second run of the inning on a single by Joe Muratore.
Gosnell kept the line moving as he connected for the third double of the inning that scored Muratore before Slaby drove in Lesley's fourth run with a triple to right-centerfield.
Blanchard added two more RBI to his day and now leads the team with 16 on the season. Gosnell finished 2-for-3 with a run scored while Parson went 1-for-4 at the dish with an RBI and a run scored.
The Lynx are off until Tuesday, March 31st when they take on Elms College in an NECC doubleheader at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Mass. First pitch is slated for 5:00p.