THE BASICS
Score:
Lesley University, 8 vs. VTSU Lyndon, 7
Lesley University, 2 vs. VTSU Lyndon, 1
Records:
Lesley Lynx (7-26, 4-8 NAC)
VTSU Hornets (8-19, 3-9 NAC)
Location: Revere, Mass. – Griswold Park
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024
THE LEAD – Lesley University picked up a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) sweep over the VTSU Lyndon Saturday afternoon in NCAA Division III softball action in the season-finale for both squads.. The Lynx rallied late and won Game 1 with a seventh inning walk-off in the 8-7 final before coming out on top in a Game 2 pitcher's duel, 2-1.
OF NOTE
Prior to the start of Game 2, the Lesley Athletic Department celebrated the careers of seniors Alexandra Kerley, Mia Santilli and Samantha Mecklenburg in a brief senior day ceremony.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)
- VTSU plated five unearned runs in the second inning to take an early 5-1 lead but Lesley battled to keep things tight. The Lynx got one immediately back in the bottom of the second on and RBI groundout by Santilli and then made it a one-run game in the fourth on a two-RBI double by Madison Herbert to make it a 5-4 game.
- Riann Fortin homered in the fifth to bump the Hornets lead to 6-4 but MJ Jones answered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double to once again make it a one-run game at 6-5.
- Claudia Knapp gave VTSU another run to cushion the lead at 7-5 in the top of the sixth but the hosts answered on an RBI single from Isabella Moscoso and a sac fly by Sydney Cole to even the score at 7-7.
- In the seventh, the Hornets got two on but Mecklenburg retired the side with a pair of K's to give her squad the chance for a walk-off which is exactly what they'd do. Jones belted a double to center to lead off the frame, moved to third on a sac bunt by Leah St. John and came in to score the game-winner on an RBI double to center by Sydney Cole to give the Lynx the 8-7 walk-off win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1)
- Jones, Cole and Herbert all finished the game with two this. Cole added three runs scored to go along with a pair of walks.
- Mecklenburg earned the win working 7.0 innings and striking out four to pick up the victory in her final collegiate start in the circle.
- Bailey Quire paced the Hornerts with a 3-for-4 outing with an RBI and run scored.
- Blake Southworth and Knapp also added two hits and two RBI each in the setback.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)
- Following three scoreless frames, the squads traded runs in the fourth to knot the game at 1-all. Quire picked up an RBI on a groundout while St. John doubled to right to drive in Jones in the bottom half of the stanza to even the score.
- Moscoso delivered what proved to be the RBI game-winner in the fifth on a single to right, driving home Mellanie Barth to give the Lynx a 2-1 advantage.
- VTSU threatened in the seventh, getting its first two runners on board after a leadoff double by Victoria Valentine followed by a walk from Southworth. It was enough to chase LU starting pitcher Emma Hodgkins from the action in favor of Herbert. The sophomore induced a long fly-out to left in a spectacular running over the shoulder catch by Barth to keep the runners at bay before a game-ending double play line-out to first to secure the 2-1 win and season-ending sweep.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 2)
- Hodgkins allowed just one run on five hits over 6.0 innings of action, striking out five to earn the win. Herbert worked the scoreless ninth to record her first career save.
- Jones posted a 2-for-3 game with one run scored.
- Cole also reached base twice with a hit and a walk.
- Valentine was the lone Hornet to post two hits with a 2-for-3 outing.
- Quire was the tough-luck loser in the circle, surrendering the two runs (one earned) on six hits to fall to 4-8 on the year.