HOLYOKE, Mass. – The Elms College baseball was unable to overcome an eighth-inning rally from Lesley University, falling to the Lynx, 6-4, in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) game at MacKenzie Stadium Tuesday evening. The Blazers dropped to 8-11 on the season with a 3-6 mark in NECC, while Lesley improved to 8-15 overall, and 5-6 in the NECC.
The Blazers grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as senior Geoff Frost (Ludlow, Mass.) blooped an RBI single into shallow right field, plating senior Brady Forrest (Hampden, Mass.) from third base. The Lynx pulled even at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame, as Frost was unable to cleanly field a hard hit ball from Lesley junior Casey Blanchard (Bernardston, Mass.), allowing the tying run to score.
After three scoreless innings, the Blazers struck again in the fifth with runners on second and third as sophomore Jordan Zima (Berlin, Conn.) delivered an RBI fielder's choice, followed by an RBI single from Elms freshman Michael Bombard (Chicopee, Mass.) to stake Elms to a 3-1 lead.
Again, the Lynx responded in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Mike Slaby (Foxboro, Mass.) and senior Rob Parson (Commack, N.Y.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles before the Lynx received RBI singles from senior John Gosnell (Toronto, Ont.) and senior David Hersey (Wolfeboro, N.H.) to knot the game at 3-3.
In the top of the seventh, the Blazers pulled ahead for a third time as Bombard delivered a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Frost from third to put Elms up 4-3.
Once again, the Lynx had an answer as Gosnell tied the game at 4-4 on an RBI single through the left side of the infield that plated Parson in the bottom of the inning as the Lynx tied it up for the third time in the game.
The Lynx came through with a two-run rally in the eighth to take their first lead of the contest. Lesley jumped on Elms junior Brian Langdon (Beacon Falls, Conn.) by loading the bases with no outs, and then brought in a two runs on RBI singles from Slaby and Parson. Lesley junior pitcher Koby Mitchell (Fall River, Mass.) gave up a walk in the ninth, but induced a game-ending double play to secure the 6-4 win for the Lynx.
Bombard started on the bump for Elms, allowing four runs, three earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts, while Langdon (0-2) took the loss in relief. Lesley senior Ray Cohen (Coventry, Conn.) made the start for the Lynx, surrendering three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts, while Mitchell (1-0) earned his first win, giving up one run on one hit with a strikeout.
The Lynx next travel to Mitchell for an NECC doubleheader Saturday afternoon starting at noon while the Blazers will look to return to the win column when they host Springfield College in non-conference action at MacKenzie Stadium Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.