The Albertus Magnus softball team swept Lasell on Wednesday afternoon in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader in Newton, Mass. The Falcons won game one 7-4 before dominating game two by a score of 11-2.
The Falcons, now 17-10 on the year and 11-4 in GNAC play, move into second place in the GNAC standings (as of 4/15) with the wins. The Falcons' 17 wins ties last season's total tally, the most the team has finished with since the 2002 season (23). The 17 victories also mark the fourth-most recorded in a single-season in program history.
The Lasers fell to 8-23 overall and 5-14 in league action.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Albertus came from behind to win 7-4. Freshman Kirsten McGinty (East Lyme, Conn.) connected on a two-run pinch-hit double in the top of the seventh inning, scoring the game-tying and eventual game-winning run. Alyssa Puccilli (Milford, Conn.) singled up the middle to begin the frame before advancing on a Brianna Spadacenta (East Haven, Conn.) base hit. Amanda Jessey (East Haven, Conn.), who came into the game to run for Spadacenta, and Puccilli later scored on McGinty's hit.
Freshman Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.) helped lead the Falcons to victory as she went 3-for-4 with a single, double and a home run, her third homer of the year. Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.) singled twice and scored a run for Albertus, while Megan Ferraro (Branford, Conn.) pitched four scoreless innings of relief. She fanned three batters and allowed four hits in the win.
Shyleen Ortiz (New Britain, Conn.) made the start in the no decision as she allowed four runs on nine hits in three innings.
Emily DeAngelis finished 3-for-4 for Lasell with a home run, two singles, two RBI and a run scored. Nicole LeBlanc added a home run, while Erin Larghi singled and tripled for the Lasers. Eileen Bergin took the loss for Lasell as she threw the complete game. She allowed seven runs, three earned, on 11 hits.
Lasell scored in the first inning when Larghi singled then scored on DeAngeli's two-run homer to left center. Albertus tied the game in the top of the third when Spadacenta led off with a double and then scored when Megan Kelly (Brnox, N.Y.) reached on an error.
Kelly eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Brianna Whitfield (West Islip, N.Y.).
Lasell answered with two runs in the third helped by a LeBlanc home run. Castillo's home run cut the Lasell lead to one at 4-3 before the Falcons' impressive four-run seventh inning.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Albertus cruised to an 11-2 win in five innings.
Krystel Enko drove in the only two runs for the Lasers as she went 1-for-2 with a double. Enko took the loss for the Lasers as she allowed 10 runs, two earned, on seven hits and five walks in 3.1 innings of work.
Carli Matrisian (Milford, Conn.) led Albertus in game two as she went 3-for-4 with three singles, four RBI, and two runs scored. Fortier chipped in with a 2-for-2 performance with a walk and three runs scored. Castillo added a double and three RBI.
Samantha Maselli (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) threw all five innings for Albertus. She allowed two unearned runs on five hits. She struck out three batters as well.
The Falcons scored three runs in the first inning and two more in the second before jumping out to an 11-0 lead in fourth inning. Lasell tacked on two runs later on but their rally was halted immediately.
Albertus returns to action on Thursday night when the Falcons head to Boston to take on Emmanuel College in a 6:30 p.m. GNAC doubleheader.
