Story courtesy of Rob Palardy, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In the Lesley University softball home opener, the Lynx handed Lasell College an 8-0 loss in five innings behind a powerful homerun by Georgia Saltzman (LYNN, Mass./Lynn English) and a dominating performance on the mound by Cassandra Knox (SEA CLIFF, N.Y./North Shore).
Lesley improved to 8-6 (2-0 NECC) with the non-conference victory while Lasell dropped to 9-15-1 (5-5 GNAC).
The Lynx held a 2-0 advantage in the third inning when with two runners on and two outs, Saltzman connected on a Nicole Slader (HARRISVILLE, R.I./North Smithfield) offering to deep left field that easily cleared the fence. It was the senior's first homerun of the season, part of a 2-for-3 day at the plate with two runs scored and four RBI.
Knox, Lesley's sophomore hurler, pitched a five-inning shutout while striking out nine Laser batters with just three hits allowed. The victory improved her pitching record to 6-4.
Lesley got on the board first in the second inning after Saltzman reached with a single and Ashley Cunningham (MOUNTAIN TOP, Pa./Crestwood) followed with a walk. Chelsea Quackenbush (EAST HAMPTON, Conn./East Hampton) then placed a sacrifice bunt to the right side of the infield to advance the runners. Sophomore Jenna Fralick (WOBURN, Mass./Woburn) brought in the runners with a single to center field that scored Saltzman and when the ball rolled past the Lasell centerfielder, Cunningham was able to cross the plate as well.
Saltzman's homerun in the third inning made the score 5-0 and another run scored in the fourth inning after Quackenbush doubled to start the inning and a groundout to the pitcher by Fralick brought in Lesley's sixth run of the game.
In the fifth and final inning, Lesley plated the final two runs of the game after Alyson Durben's (STOW, Mass./Nashoba Regional) sharp grounder to the third baseman was misplayed and reached the outfield, scoring Jodi Fralick (WOBURN, Mass./Woburn) who was sitting on second base. Saltzman later scored Durben with a groundout to the shortstop to end the game.
Lasell's Talia DeChiara (KINGSTON, Mass.//Silver Lake Regional) led the Lasers with a 2-for-2 day at the plate and Tricia Culver (NORTHAMPTON, Mass./Northampton) added a hit in the loss.
The Lynx will be in action on Saturday, April 10 for a home doubleheader against NECC opponent Southern Vermont College starting at 3:00 pm. Lasell hosts GNAC foe Johnson & Wales University on Friday, April 9 starting at 3:00 pm.