CAMBRIDGE, MA – Lesley University (23-10, 16-0) got a four-hit shutout from starter Jennifer Dorval (Franklin, NH/Franklin), and Nicole Mercurio (Wakefield, MA/Wakefield) went 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run and three RBI's as the Lynx bested Daniel Webster (18-17, 10-6) 11-0 in New England Collegiate Conference softball play Thursday afternoon at Buckingham Field.

            Mercurio was one of five Lynx to score twice, with Sarah Apgar (Andover, NJ/Lenape) going 2-for-2 with two runs and Allison Fountain (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) going 2-for-3 with two runs and four RBI's as Lesley won its seventh straight.

            The Lynx strung together four straight hits, three of the extra-base variety, to put a four spot on the board in the first. Junior Jessica Guevara (Nantucket, MA/Nantucket) dunked a double down the right field line to start the rally, and Gabrielle Brixey (Coalinga, CA/West Hills CC) and Nicole Mercurio (Wakefield, MA/Wakefield) each tripled and scored to put the Lynx ahead 4-0.

             A Guevara RBI single and Fountain's second RBI in as many at-bats put the Lynx up six after two. Two frames later, a Fountain two-run triple followed by a towering Nicole Mercurio (Wakefield, CT/Wakefield) home run to left, her second blast in the last two days, highlighted a five-run fourth that sent the Lynx on to an 11-0 win.

            The Eagles tallied two base hits in the fifth, but couldn't push a run across. For Daniel Webster, Sarah Durocher (Keene, NH/Keene) allowed 13 hits in four innings, and freshman Skye Ferland (Eden, VT/Peoples Academy) went 2-for-2.

            Dorval improves to 13-2 with her four-hit shutout, striking out eight in her five innings pitched.

            Both teams return to NECC play on Saturday, with Lesley hosting Bay Path and Daniel Webster taking on Newbury.