Lasell Softball edges Saint Joseph (Conn.) to earn GNAC split

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Freshman Bethany Hector (Jaffrey, N.H.) hit an RBI single and classmate Sarah Walton (Poland, Maine) followed with a two-run double in the seventh inning of the nightcap Saturday afternoon as Lasell rallied from behind to defeat the University of Saint Joseph, 6-4, and earn a split of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader at West Haven High School. The Blue Jays won the opener, 3-0, on a five-hit shutout by sophomore Amaria Sharon (Tolland, Conn.)

With the split, Lasell moves to 7-19 overall and 6-8 in conference play, while USJ is now 19-9 overall a and 11-3 in the GNAC. Four of Lasells six conference wins have come against four of the top six teams in the GNAC.

After managing just five hits in the opener, including doubles by freshman Alexis Truesdale (Wakefield, Mass.) and sophomore Arianna Genovese (Rocky Hill, Conn.), Lasell pounded out 14 hits in the nightcap, including two doubles by Walton and one by senior Ashley Gatchell (Franklin, Mass.).

Game 1 – Saint Joseph 3, Lasell 0

Sharon struck out five hitters and did not walk a batter in her five-hit whitewash. Lasell left seven runners on base, including runners at third in the fourth and fifth innings. Sophomore Nicole Arcese (Holliston, Mass.) took the loss for Lasell despite giving up two earned runs in six innings, striking out five.

The Blue Jays scored the only runs they would need with two in the fourth inning on an RBI triple by junior Kara Klimaszewski (Naugatuck, Conn.) and a Lasell throwing error. They added an insurance run in the sixth on singles by Klimaszewski and sophomore Taylor Marino (Middlefield, Conn.) and a sacrifice fly by freshman Amanda Thiel (Torrington, Conn.)

Game 2 – Lasell 6, Saint Joseph 4

After USJ got on the board with a run in the first inning with an RBI double by sophomore McKenna Driscoll (Bristol, Conn.), Lasell regained the lead with two in the second as Gatchell came home on a double steal and freshman Hailey Haskins (Franklin, N.H.) had an RBI single. The Lasers tacked on another run in the fourth on an RBI double by Gatchell.

USJ regained the lead with three in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Marino and a two-run hit by freshman Michelle Woodruff (Southington, Conn.). Lasell came back with the two-out, game-winning rally in the seventh when freshman Shayna Fondini (Burlington, Mass.). and Arcese reached on singles, Hector drove in a run with a single, and Walton delivered a clutch two-run double.

Haskins shut down the Blue Jays in the bottom of the seventh to earn the complete-game victory (6-6)

Lasell will be back at Taylor Field on Sunday, April 22, hosting Rivier University on Senior Day for a GNAC doubleheader beginning at noon. USJ will face Simmons College Sunday at Albertus Magnus College, starting at 1:00 p.m. 

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