CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University registered their fourth straight game with double-digit hit totals, but it was not enough to get past Eastern Nazarene College as the Lions topped the Lynx 10-5 in a non-conference matchup tonight at Trum Memorial Stadium.
The loss breaks up a four-game win streak for the Lynx as they slide to 13-14 on the season while the Lions, who snapped a four-game losing skid, improve to 13-11 overall.
Sophomore Zachary Dukes (Spencer, Mass.) earned the win for the Lions as he went seven strong innings, scattering seven hits while allowing just two runs (one earned) and striking out three.
Freshman Connor Simpson (Haverhill, Mass.) led the offense for the visitors as he went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, one RBI, and one run scored. Fellow rookies Josue Basilis (Bronx, N.Y.) and John Greenlee (San Marcos, Calif.) each finished with two hits, two runs, and two RBI while senior Justin Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) also picked up two hits while driving in a pair.
Junior Mike Slaby (Foxboro, Mass.) finished with 2-for-4 with a walk to go with a run scored and one RBI to pace the Lynx while freshman Vincent Taliercio (Valley Stream, N.Y.) also added a pair of hits. Freshman Gage Reycroft (Fort Meyers, Fla.) picked up the first hit of his collegiate career as he smacked a triple down the right field line in the bottom of the ninth inning.
After the teams traded runs in the third inning, ENC pushed across three in the top of the fourth as Basilis doubled home a pair before Wagner followed with a single to give the guests a 4-1 advantage.
That lead would grow to 6-1 in the next inning as Simpson smashed a run-scoring double before coming around on a Lesley error in the infield.
After adding one run in the top half of the sixth, ENC would plate three in the eight to stake a 10-1 edge.
The Lynx would continue to battle in the eighth as freshman Nicholas Ferragine (Randolph, N.J.) drew a bases loaded walk before senior Gustavo Polidor (Caracas, Venezuela) beat out an infield single to plate rookie Daniel O'Donnell Jr. (Clark, N.J.). Sophomore Justin Clark (Chino Hills, Calif.) would collect an RBI with a single before freshman Ryan Pumphret (Shrewsbury, Mass.)drew the second bases-loaded walk of the inning, but that would be all the Lynx offense could muster as the Lions held on for the 10-5 victory.
Lesley will return to New England Collegiate Conference play this weekend as they travel to Bennington, Vermont for a three-game set with Southern Vermont College. ENC will also return to the diamond on Saturday as they battle Wentworth Institute of Technology with a doubleheader Saturday at noon.