THE BASICS 

Score: 
GM 1 – Lesley University, 3 vs. Elms College, 2
GM 2 – Lesley University, 0 vs. Elms College, 4

Records: 
Lesley Lynx (6-16)
Elms Blazers (6-30)

Location: Revere, Mass. – Ardagna Field at Griswold Park

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

THE LEAD –  The Lesley University softball team split its Tuesday doubleheader versus Elms College (3-2, 0-4) on Tuesday afternoon at Ardagna Field at Griswold Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

• Elms quickly jumped to a 1-0 lead after the top half of the first but in the bottom half of the frame, Lesley responded with a two-run inning and retook the lead, 2-1. With runners on first and second, Shae Thomas (Clayton, N.C.) ripped an RBI single to right that plated both Kari Sorensen (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) who was hit by a pitch earlier, and Lauren Martin (Lexington, Mass.) who had taken advantage of a throwing error from the Elms defense.
• After a scoreless second, Lesley tacked on another run in the bottom of the third when Madison Herbert (Milford, N.H.) sent a single back up the middle that allowed Thomas to score after she had singled earlier that inning. The Blazers trimmed the deficit to one (3-2) in the top of the fourth thanks to a one out RBI from Sydney Barthel. Despite having the tying run on first, Lesley starter Emma Hodgkins (Raymond, N.H.) escaped the jam by forcing a strikeout and flyout which kept it a one-run ball game. 
• From then on, Hodgkins and the Lynx defense kept the Blazers offense at bay which included a stretch between the fifth and sixth where she allowed just one hit. Going into the final inning, Elms would threaten once again with having runners on first and second and two outs. Despite having the go-ahead run at first, Hodgkins ultimately secured the 3-2 win by retiring the final batter on a flyout to right. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1)

• Thomas led the Lynx offense in game one with her third two-RBI game of the season. Her three hits also tied a career-high for the Sophomore outfielder.
• Herbert was the other lone Lynx with an RBI in game one which extended her streak of recording an RBI to three games.
• On the mound, Hodgkins was stellar as the senior tossed a complete game allowing five hits and striking out six batters.
• For the visitors, five different Blazers ended up with a hit in game one.
• Kaelyn Zakaitis was dealt with the loss in game one after going 6.0 IP allowing six hits and three runs (zero earned). 
• Lesley has now won four-straight matchups against Elms with the win in game one. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

• Both sides opened game two scoreless thanks to strong pitching and defense. Elms threatened early in the contest when the Blazers had runners on first and second with two outs after back-to-back singles. However, Herbert evaded the the threat by retiring the next batter on a pop-up. However, in the third, the Blazers broke the scoreless tie thanks to a two-run RBI single to center from Katie Cosmos. 
• Lesley would have a chance to answer in the bottom half of the inning when the squad had runners on first and second with two outs after walks from both Herbert and Hodgkins. Unfortunately, Elms starter Jill Dykema got out of the inning with a ground out to maintain the two-run lead for the Blazers.
• Elms would go on to tack on two more runs between the fourth and fifth innings to go up 4-0 and from then on, Dykema held the Lesley offense in check. After the fifth, Dykema would continue to quiet the Lesley bats by not allowing a hit all the way up until the seventh when Leah St. John (New Ipswich, N.H.) sent a double to left center. Unfortunately, Dykema would end Lesley's momentum by striking out the next batter for the 4-0 win. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 2)

• St. John was the lone Lynx to record a hit in game two.
• Herbert was dealt with the loss in game two after going all seven innings while allowing 11 hits and four runs (three earned) and striking out two.
• Cosmos paced the Elms offense in game two with a three-hit, three-RBI day.
• Dykema was solid all day in game two by going seven innings allowing one hit and striking out six.

UP NEXT

• Lesley has a quick turnaround as the squad hits the road for a quick non-conference matchup at Fitchburg State tomorrow April 23 in a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.