SB: Lasers Split Doubleheader at Norwich

Northfield, VT - Lasell softball split a pair of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) games at Norwich University on Friday afternoon at NU Softball Field. They came up short in a 4-2 loss in game one, but rebounded for a 5-4 comeback win in the second game. 

Game 1

Norwich got on the board early, scoring in each of the first two innings with an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly to take a 2–0 lead. Lasell responded in the top of the third when Emily Mestas drove in Alyssa Bland with a single up the middle, trimming the deficit to 2–1. The Cadets extended their lead in the fourth with help from a Lasell error, pushing the score to 4–1. Two of Norwich's four runs were unearned, the result of defensive miscues that ultimately proved costly for the Lasers. Lasell added a final run in the seventh when Abigail Fortin scored on an error by Norwich, off the bat of Madalen Brown. But that would be as close as the Lasers got, as the comeback bid was shut down by Norwich's Madison DeCota, who went the distance, striking out six and allowing just one earned run on five hits. Mestas finished with the lone RBI in the game for the Lasers, while Fortin and Bland each added a hit and scored a run. Meghan Theall (3-8) allowed eight hits and two earned runs in her 5.1 innings of work, ultimately taking the loss. 

Game 2

In a similar fashion to game one, Norwich posted the first two runs of the game and capitalized on an error by the Lasers. The Cadets added to their lead in the fifth when a sacrifice fly brought in a run to make it 3–0. Needing a late rally, the Lasers' bats came alive in the sixth. Katie Hopkins plated the first run with a sacrifice fly, and Meghan Theall followed with a clutch RBI single to left, scoring Emily Mestas and cutting the deficit to 3–2. In the seventh, Lasell exploded for three more runs. Theall once again came through in the clutch, driving a bases-clearing single up the middle and advancing all the way to third on a throwing error. Alyssa Bland, Mestas, and Hopkins all crossed the plate, giving Lasell a 5–3 lead. The Cadets threatened in the bottom of the seventh, scoring once, but Lasell starter Abigail Fortin shut the door, stranding the tying run on base to earn the complete-game victory. Fortin (6-8) allowed 11 hits but limited the damage with timely outs, striking out two and walking one in seven innings of work. Theall led the offense with three hits and three RBIs, while Mestas added two hits and two runs scored. 

Up Next - The Lasers are set to host their final two regular-season GNAC matchups against the Blue Jays of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Sunday afternoon on Taylor Field, with Senior Day festivities set to take place before the 12 PM opener.