Story courtesy of Rob Palardy, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Following two five-inning victories over Southern Vermont College on Saturday afternoon, the Lesley University softball team remained unbeaten in New England Collegiate Conference play. The Lynx won 11-0 and 15-1 to improve to 10-6 (4-0 NECC) while the Mountaineers dropped to 1-12 (0-4 NECC).
Game One
Jodi Fralick (WOBURN, Mass./Woburn) cracked a two-run homerun over the center fielder's head in the bottom of the first inning and added a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to lead the Lynx with three RBI in a 11-0 shutout of the Mountaineers. Fralick also had two stolen bases in the game.
Freshmen Molly Sarson (SANFORD, Maine/Sanford) and Tiffany Korp (WORCESTER, Mass./Holy Name) both added two RBIs with two hits apiece as the Lesley offense exploded for 15 hits on the day.
On the mound, Cassandra Knox (SEA CLIFF, N.Y./North Shore) and Stephanie Vassillion (WARNER, N.H./Kearsarge) combined to no-hit Southern Vermont. Knox struck out seven batters through four innings while Vassillion worked a 1-2-3 top of the fifth to close out the game. Knox earned the win and is now 7-4.
Both Emily Mangiaratti (AMHERST, Mass./Amherst Regional) and Georgia Saltzman (LYNN, Mass./Lynn English) had three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI in the game. Mangiaratti added two stolen bases.
Game Two
Southern Vermont quickly erased a difficult game one from their memories by scoring a run in the top of the first inning with two outs to take an early 1-0 lead. Talan Barron (METHUEN, Mass./Methuen) doubled deep over the left fielder's head and then scurried to third base on a passed ball. Allison Murphy (SUNDERLAND, Vt./Arlington Memorial) followed with another double to deep left field that plated Barron. Murphy went on to steal third base but was stranded at third to end the inning.
Lesley tied it up in the bottom half of the first inning after Lesley's Mangiaratti advanced to third base on a passed ball, but the catcher threw an errant ball to third base that rolled to the outfield. Mangiaratti was able to advance to the knot the score at 1-1.
After a 1-2-3 top of the second for the Mountaineers, Lesley came up to bat and scored nine runs thanks to five walks, three hit batters, four wild pitches, an RBI single by Ashley Cunningham (MOUNTAIN TOP, Pa./Crestwood) and a two-RBI single by Jenna Fralick (WOBURN, Mass./Woburn).
The Lynx went on to score two runs in the third inning and three runs in the fourth inning to solidify the victory.
Saltzman had another solid game at the plate going 2-for-2 with five RBI and two runs scored while Jodi Fralick went 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs, and another stolen base.
Sarson was solid for four innings on the mound giving up just one run on four hits and one walk while striking out four. She earned her third win of the season and is now 3-1.
Lesley plays in a second straight day of action with a double dip against non-conference powerhouse Wellesley College on Sunday starting at 12:00 pm. Southern Vermont hosts NECC rival Elms College tomorrow with two games starting at 1:00 pm.