FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Lesley University softball team got their first victory of the season as they defeated Drew University 3-0 on Wednesday.  In the second game of the day, Lesley fell to an impressive Wheaton College (MA) team 14-4.  With today's contests, the Lynx currently stands at 1-5 to start the 2008 season

Game One vs. Drew University

Junior pitcher Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) pitched seven solid innings to earn her first victory in a Lynx uniform.  She gave up just five hits and struck in three batters, as she kept the Drew batters off-balance all game.

The Lynx got their bats going for the first team this season as three players tallied two hits a piece.  Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.) made the most noise as she smacked her first homerun of her career to start off the top of the third inning giving Lesley a 2-0 lead.  Durben blasted the pitch over the left fielder's head and she raced around the diamond for the inside-the-park homerun. 

After a pitching change for Drew, back-to-back doubles from Jodi Fralick (Woburn, Mass.) and Sarah Wilson (Lowell, Mass.) led to another run for the Lynx and a 3-0 advantage.

Drew loaded the bases in the sixth inning as they attempted to erase the three-run deficit but great Lesley defense from third baseman Ashley Cunningham (Mountain Top, Pa.), a heads up play on a wild pitch from Fralick, and a strikeout from Burnett put away Drew's biggest offensive threat of the game.

Game Two vs. Wheaton College (MA)

In the second game, Wheaton College put Lesley in a deep hole after scoring six runs in the first inning courtesy of eight hits and an error. 

The Lynx got to work in the bottom half of the inning after shortstop Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, Mass.) drew a leadoff walk.  On the game, Cabral-Pini reached base three times.  Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.) continued to impress early in spring training as she doubled home the runner.  Durben finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an run batted in.

In the fourth inning, Lesley scored their second run of the game after Alicia Pari (No. Providence, R.I.) successfully bunt for a hit and an aggressive Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, Mass.) scored from second base. 

The Lynx were able to score two more runs, but the Wheaton offense was too much to handle. 

Lesley will be back in action Thursday against Skidmore College and Finlandia University at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. 

To learn more about the Lesley University softball team, please visit their website.