HENNIKER, N.H. – The Lesley University offense was in full gear today as they scored a total of 27 runs on 32 hits in a doubleheader sweep of New England College this afternoon in Henniker, N.H. The Lynx used an eight-run seventh inning to pull away for a 17-9 win in game one before taking the nightcap by a score of 10-1. The Lynx won the four-game set with the Pilgrims 3-1 after splitting a doubleheader on Saturday.
The 17 runs scored in the opener ties a program record for runs in a game, matching a total from a 17-16 win over Becker College on April 26, 2015. Senior Gustavo Polidor (Caracas, Venezula) set a new single-game program record with six RBI in game one, and finished a combined 6-for-9 with six runs batted in and five runs scored in the two games from atop the Lynx lineup.
Lesley will return to New England Collegiate Conference play on Tuesday when they travel to Elms College in the rubber match of the three-game set at 7:30p. The two teams split a doubleheader last Wednesday night.
Game One: Lesley 17, NEC 9
Box Score
With the score even at 9-9, the Lynx offense exploded in the top of the seventh inning as they sent 14 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on six hits while taking advantage of some shaky defense by the Pilgrims.
Freshman Jacob Cervantes (Oxnard, Calif.) and senior Casey Blanchard (Bernardston, Mass.) started the rally with back-to-back singles before Cervantes scored on the first of three NEC errors in the inning. Junior Mike Slaby (Foxboro, Mass.) followed with an RBI double – his second two-bagger of the game – before Polidor knocked in a pair with a one-out single to right-center.
Polidor would then come around on a double by rookie Matt Bavaro (Sayville, N.Y.) who later scored on another Pilgrim's fielding miscue. Blanchard picked up his second single of the inning, this time bringing in sophomore Justin Clark (Chino Hills, Calif.) who reached earlier on a hit by pitch. The Lynx would cap the scoring in the inning as Slaby drew a bases loaded walk to give the visitors a 17-9 lead that they would not relinquish.
Blanchard went a perfect 5-for-5 at the dish with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored while Bavaro finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
Sophomore Nick Iadevaio (Mineola, N.Y.) earned the victory for the Lynx, tossing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Game Two: Lesley 10, NEC 1
Box Score
The offense stayed hot in the nightcap as the Lynx jumped out of the gate with a trio of runs in the top of the first inning. Freshman Ryan Pumphret (Shrewsbury, Mass.) laced a two-run single to plate Polidor and Bavaro before Cervantes knocked in the third run of the inning with a sacrifice-fly to left that allowed Clark to cross the dish.
Lesley would further separate themselves in the top of the third as Pumphret once again got the Lynx going with an RBI single to center. Cervantes would follow with a solo home run over the left field fence – the first home run of his career.
The Lynx would add three more in the inning to extend the lead to 8-1, before adding single runs in the fourth and the seventh to cruise to the 10-1 victory.
Sophomore starter Bryan Hildebrand (Milford, Mass.) turned in a strong outing to improve to 2-1 on the season. The southpaw scattered eight hits and allowed just one run while striking out two over six innings. Senior Trevor Martin (Whitinsville, Mass.) finished the Pilgrims off with a scoreless seventh inning of relief.
Pumphret finished a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI while Slaby, Polidor, and freshman Nicholas Ferragine (Randolph, N.J.) registered two hits apiece.