Baseball Drops Two in Program Opener

West Harrison, NY- The Lasell College Baseball team opened up its inaugural season with a  doubleheader at Purchase College on Saturday.  Though the Lasers lost both games, finishing the day 0-2, they showed promise for a successful season ahead.

In the first of two games, both teams were held scoreless through five innings, with Lasell's sophomore pitcher Rich Balgowan (Hamilton, NJ) striking out eight during that time.  It was not until the bottom of the fifth that the Panthers scored their first and game-winning run.  Josh Speilberg (Oceanside, NY) scored with bases loaded as Austin Groves (Stratford, Conn.) walked to force the run in. George Kennedy (Nyack, NY) sent a double to center field to bat in two more runs for the Panthers in the next at bat.  The Panthers finished the inning with three hits and six runs, putting the Lasers in a hole they did not return from.   

Matt Mahoney (Rockland, Mass.), Conor Cavanaugh (Quincy, Mass.), and Patrick Girard (Stonington, Conn.) each hit doubles for the Lasers in their first game as a varsity program.  Albert Baez (Bronx, NY) earned the shutout win for Purchase, final score 6-0.

In the second game of the day, Lasell fell once again to the Panthers, however they held them to just one run.  In the bottom of the first frame, Puchase's Jack Lappin (New York, NY) doubled, then advanced to third on a fielder's choice.  Anthony Dowalo (Hicksville, NY) singled to earn the RBI for Lappin's run. 

Mahoney, Cavanaugh, Josh Sullivan (Rockland, Mass.) and Angelo Colucci (Stoneham, Mass.) all got hits for Lasell in the contest, but the Lasers did not score.  The Panthers one run in the first was all they needed to secure a 1-0 victory.

Mike Mahoney (Rockland, Mass.) pitched six innings for Lasell in the second contest, striking out seven and allowing three hits and one run. Kevin McQuade (Mamaronack, NY) took the win for the Panthers.