Story courtesy of Rob Palardy, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
KEENE, N .H. – The #2 seed Lesley University softball earned their first ever Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament victory with a 15-7, five-inning triumph over #6 seed Worcester State College as the Lynx advanced to day two of the post-season tournament. Lesley lost their second game to #1 seed Keene State 10-0, but will continue in the double-elimination tournament on Sunday morning.
ECAC Semifinal vs. Worcester State College
Junior outfielder Alyson Durben (STOW, Mass./Nashoba Regional) had a team-high four RBI and Ashley Cunningham (MOUNTAIN TOP, Pa./Crestwood) cracked a three-run homerun in a 10-run first inning, as the Lynx defeated Worcester State College 15-7. The win marked the first time any Lesley team had registered victory in the ECAC Tournament.
In that high-scoring bottom of the first, a two-RBI single by Molly Sarson (SANFORD, Maine/Sanford) and a two-RBI double by Emily Mangiaratti highlighted the inning along with Cunningham's blast.
The Lancers got two runs back in the top of the third inning, but Lesley responded with three more in the bottom half of the inning on a single by Durben that plated two runners and a throwing error by the defense that brought home another run.
Worcester State scored five runs in the fourth inning on five hits and two errors to cut Lesley's lead to 13-7. In the bottom of the fifth, however, the Lynx were able to end the game by scoring two runs on another two-RBI single by Durben.
Jodi Fralick (WOBURN, Mass./Woburn) and Mangiaratti both had three hits in four at bats for the Lynx. Fralick scored three times and added an RBI while Mangiaratti scored twice and knocked in two.
On the mound, Cassandra Knox (SEA CLIFF, N.Y./North Shore) went 5.0 innings to earn the victory, improving to 23-8 on the season. Knox struck out three batters while giving up seven runs, six of which were earned.
ECAC Semifinal vs. Keene State College
Lesley suffered a 10-0 loss to #1 seed Keene State College in the ECAC Semifinals at the hands of Owls pitcher Emily Albin (BETHEL, Conn./Bethel) who pitched a 7.0 inning shutout with six strikeouts while giving up just four hits.
Lynx freshman Molly Sarson got two of those hits, going 2-for-3 out of the six spot in the lineup.
Lesley was in a 4-0 hole to start the top of the seventh inning, but Keene State scored six runs off two homeruns to take a commanding 10-0. Heather Harold (NEWTON, N.J./Newton) hit a two-run blast and Katie Bradford (LEBANON, N.H./Lebanon) followed with a grand slam to do the damage for the Owls. Bradford led her team with five RBI in the game.
Lesley will next play at 10:00 am in the loser's bracket final of the ECAC Tournament against Bridgewater State College. Bridgewater State lost 9-2 to Keene State in their first game of the day before defeating Worcester State 4-1 to advance to day two. The game will be held by the host school Keene State College.