THE BASICS 

Score: 
GM 1 – Lesley University, 8 vs. Western CT State University, 14
GM 2 – Lesley University, 2 vs. Westfield State University, 10 (5 inn.)

Records: 
Lesley Lynx (0-5, 0-0 NAC)
WCSU Wolves (5-4, 0-0 LEC)
Westfield State Owls (5-2, 0-0 MASCAC)

Location: Naples, Fla. – No Collier Field #5

Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024

THE LEAD – The Lesley University softball team dropped a pair of non-conference games Thursday morning, falling to Western Connecticut State University, 14-8, before falling to Westfield State University, 10-2, in five innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1 vs. WCSU)

• Runs came in bunches for both squads in this high-scoring affair as the Wolves plated four in the first to set the tone for the action. Alexis Resto delivered a two-RBI single to open the scoring and moved around the bases, stealing home to put the visitors on top, 4-0.
• Lesley got half that back in the bottom half when first year shortstop MJ Jones belted an RBI double and came in on an RBI single by Sydney Cole to make it 4-2 through one.
• Following scoreless frames in the second and third, the Lynx made it a one-run game in the fourth on an RBI single from Madison Herbert to move the score to 4-3.
• WCSU responded with a four-run fifth to pad its cushion back to 8-3, pushing all four runs across without a hit thanks to a pair of Lynx miscues in the field.
• Lesley continued to fight, immediately scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning to stay within striking distance at 8-6 as Cole delivered another RBI single before Holly Swinamer and Lauren Martin worked bases loaded walks, forcing WCSU to make a pitching change. On in relief, Caitlin Conley recorded the final two outs of the frame, stranding the bases loaded to get the Wolves back in the dugout with the two-run advantage through five.
• WCSU used that momentum in the sixth, once again pushing four runs across the plate on four hits to double up the Lynx at 12-6 but Lesley would not go away quietly, plating a pair in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly from Jones and an RBI single to right from Swinamer to cut the deficit to 12-8 but it would prove to not be enough as WestConn added two insurance runs in the seventh to account for the 14-8 final in Naples, Fla.
  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1 – WCSU)

• Jones and Cole both finished the game going 2-for-3 with two RBI and seven of the nine starting Lynx collected hits on the day.
• Swinamer also collected a season-high two RBI in the setback.  
• WCSU starting pitcher Lindsay Farinaccio (3-1) earned the win working 4 1/3 innings before Conley came in to work the final 2 2/3 frames to record the save, as the duo combined for five K's.
• LU's Samantha Mecklenburg suffered the loss, working 6 2/3 innings, striking out four to fall to 0-2 on the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2 vs. WSU)

• Lesley jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout by Jones in the first but the lead was short-lived as the Owls responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for good at 4-1.
• Abby Clark made it 5-1 with an RBI single in the second and then the Owls exploded for four more runs in the third to blow the game open at 9-1 with the big blow coming on an RBI triple down the right field line by Jordyn Lummus.
• With the eight-run rule in play, the Lynx forced the game to continue, plating a run on an RBI groundout by Emma Hodgkins in the top of the fifth but the Owls got it right back in the bottom half on an unearned run to end the game early, 10-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 2 – WSU)

• Hodgkins enjoyed a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI and run scored for Lesley.
• Gianna Conte (2-1) earned the win in the circle for WSU, scattering four hits over three innings and striking out two before Stephanie Scoville worked two hitless innings to close the door on the Lynx, striking out three.
• Lesley stole a season-high four bases in the setback powered by a two-steal performance by catcher Kari Sorensen.

UP NEXT

• The Lynx wrap up their Spring Break trip tomorrow with games against Pitt.-Bradford at 9:00 AM followed by an 11:00 AM tilt against Wisconsin Superior.