Revere, MA - Lesley University escaped with a pair of one-run victories over Vermont State University Lyndon on the final day of the North Atlantic Conference softball season Saturday. With the sweep, Lesley finishes 7-26 overall and 4-8 in conference play. Lyndon wraps up its season at 8-19, 3-9 in the NAC.
Game 1 - Lesley 8, VTSU Lyndon 7
The Lynx broke in front with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Isabella Moscoso led off the game with a base hit, moved to second on a wild pitch, stole third, and scored on Kari Sorenson's base hit.
Lyndon responded with a big second inning, aided by a pair of Lesley miscues. Seairra Anderson (Somersworth walked leading off, then moved to third when Lindsey Gannon (Beverly, MA) reached on an error. After Gannon stole second, Bailey Quire's (Gainesville, FL) base hit drove in Anderson to tie things. Emily Anderson (Levittown, NY) then laid down a sacrifice bunt, and a Lesley throwing error allowed Gannon to score and put the Hornets in front. After Victoria Valentine (East Burke, VT) walked and stole second, Blake Southworth (Bethel, VT) laced a two-run double to make it 4-2. Claudia Knapp (Howell, NJ) followed with a base hit to drive in Southworth with the fifth Hornet run.
Sydney Cole tripled leading off the Lesley second inning. She scored on Mia Santilli's ground out to cut the Lyndon lead to 5-2.
The Lynx crept closer in the home half of the fourth inning. MJ Jones walked leading off, then one out later Cole drew another walk. Both runners moved up on Santilli's ground out, then scored on Madison Herbert's base hit.
Riann Fortin (Newport, VT) hit her first home run of the season leading off the fifth inning to give Lyndon a bit of breathing room and make the score 6-4. However Lesley was able to pull back within one in the bottom of the fifth when Sorenson reached on an error and later scored on a Jones double.
The Hornets pushed their lead back to two in the top of the sixth inning. Valentine walked leading off then Southworth was hit by a pitch. Knapp followed with a double to center driving in Valentine to make it 7-5, Lyndon.
Lesley pulled even in the bottom of the sixth inning. Cole drew a walk leading off, then Santilli singled. Herbert beat out a bunt single to load the bases. One out later Moscoso singled back up the middle to score Cole. Then Santilli came home with the tying run on Emma Hodgkins's sacrifice fly.
After the Hornets failed to score in the top of the seventh inning, Jones doubled leading off the bottom half of the frame. Leah St. John bunted Jones to third, then Cole's base hit drove in Jones for the walk off win.
Samantha Mecklenburg picked up the complete game win for Lesley, allowing two earned runs and eight hits with four strikeouts and six walks. Valentine took the loss for Lyndon after giving up five earned runs and ten hits with two strikeouts and three walks over 6.1 innings.
Game 2 - Lesley 2, VTSU Lyndon 1
Game two developed into a pitcher's duel between Quire and Hodgkins. Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard through the first three innings.
In the top of the fourth inning, Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) and Fortin drew back to back walks leading off. After Seairra Anderson was hit by a pitch, Quire grounded out, driving in Porter with the first run of the game.
Lesley answered in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jones doubled with two outs, then scored on St. John's double.
the Lynx took the lead in the home half of the fifth inning. Shae Thomas reached on an error leading off and later moved to second on a wild pitch. After Mellanie Barth's base hit moved Thomas to third, Moscosco's RBI single drove in Thomas to give Lesley a 2-1 lead.
With Lesley still leading 2-1 and Lyndon down to their final three outs, the Hornets would not go quietly. Valentind doubled leading off, putting the tying run at second. After Southworth walked, Herbert came in to replace Hodgkins in the circle. She got Knapp to fly out, then Porter lined into a game ending double play.
Hodgkins earned the win, going 6+ innings and allowing one run on five hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Herbert picked up the save. Quire took the loss despite only allowing one earned run and six hits over six innings of work.
Saturday's doubleheader concluded Lyndon's regular season schedule. Continue to check VTSUHornets.com to see whether any non-conference contests that were postponed due to weather earlier in the season get rescheduled during the upcoming week.
