CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The first place teams from both the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) and New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) collided on Monday afternoon as the Lesley University softball team swept a double header from Pine Manor College.

Game One

The Lynx took game 5-2 behind a solid pitching performance from Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) who struck out eight Gators in the complete game victory.  The senior's only blemish came in the sixth inning when Kayla Ferrara (South Portland, Me.) crushed a two-run home run to left field. 

Burnett recovered from the blast to finish the game and finish with 7.0 innings pitched, five hits, two earned runs, and two walks in her seventh victory of the season. 

At the plate, Lesley's Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles that drove in three Lynx runners.  The sophomore's doubles came in the second and sixth inning.  Third baseman Sarah Wilson (Lowell, Mass.) also finished 2-for-3 and scored twice.

Also recording RBIs for the Lynx were Jodi Fralick (Woburn, Mass.) and Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, Mass.).

The Lynx did their damage against GNAC Pitcher of the Week Jackie Martinez (Albuquerque, N.M.) who up until this game had a consecutive scoreless innings streak of 24.1 innings.

Game Two

In the nightcap, Cassandra Knox (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) continued to impress in her rookie season as the freshman shutout Pine Manor for the entire seven innings as the Lynx won 4-0.  Knox scattered six hits in the game while walking two and striking out three Gators.

Knox improved to 5-3 on the season.

Wilson continued her hot hitting on the day with an RBI double in the fourth inning that gave Lesley a 1-0 lead.  Later in the inning, Wilson would cross home plate after Christina DiGiorgio (Lowell, Mass.) laced a single to left field to drive her in. 

Wilson provided her most memorable moment leading off the top of the sixth inning, belting a home run that gave Lesley their fourth run of the game.  It was her first home run of the season and the ninth of her career to-date. 

Lesley will host their next games on Wednesday, April 15 against NECC rivals Elms College starting at 3:00 pm. 

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

Contact:          Rob Palardy
                        Sports Information Director
                        Lesley University
                        617.349.8627 (office)
                        617.349.8640 (fax)
                        rpalardy@lesley.edu