New Haven, Conn. - The fifth-seeded Albertus Magnus College softball team defeated eighth-seeded Lasell College, 6-5, in the First Round of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball tournament Wednesday afternoon at the Shea Softball Complex. The Falcons trailed the Lasers, 5-3, entering the bottom of the sixth, but the hosts rallied four three-runs on four hits to secure the home win.

FINAL SCORE: Albertus Magnus 6 | Lasell 5
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (23-15) | Lasell (11-26)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Sophomore Laura Anderson (East Haven, Conn.) got things started for the Falcons scoring the first run of the day to give the hosts the early one-run edge at the end of the first. Two innings later, Lasell took its first lead of the day, 2-1, on a RBI single from Sarah Walton before tacking on two more runs to push its lead to three, 4-1, heading into the bottom of the fourth.

An inning later, Lasell struck again scoring a run on a sacrifice fly from Walton, giving the visitors a four-run cushion, 5-1, but a two-run, four hit inning by Albertus brought the score to within two, 5-3, thanks to a pair of RBI from Gillian Fortier (Naugatuck, Conn.) and Melissa Castillo (Taftville, Conn.).

Albertus continued to swing the bat in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Aubrey DeFoe (Watertown, Conn.) drove in the Falcons' first run of the inning making the score 5-4, forcing Lasell to go to its bullpen for a new pitcher. The hits didn't stop there as a bunt from Maxine Sanchez (Corona, N.Y.) moved Samantha Maselli (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) to second before Fortier cleared the bases giving the Falcons the 6-5 lead.

Lasell threatened the Falcons with runners on in the top of the seventh, but solid defense and pitching by the hosts sealed the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
On the Mound:

• Albertus Magnus - Laura Anderson (W, 9-4): 7.0 IP | 10 H | 5 R | 5 ER | 5 SO
• Lasell - Nicole Arcese (L, 3-10): 0.2 IP | 2 H | 1 R | 1 ER

At the Plate:

• Fortier led the Falcons at the plate with three hits over four at bat as well as posted a game-high three RBI.
• Three different player from Lasell tallied a team-best two hits.
• Walton led the Lasers in RBI with two while three other players registered an RBI each.
• DeFoe, Sanchez and Brianna Whitfield (West Islip, N.Y.) added two hits apiece for the Falcons.
• Albertus posted an 11-10 edge in hits over Lasell.
• Along with her two hits, Sanchez drove in two runs for the hosts.

UP NEXT
The softball team returns to action on Thursday, May 3rd as the Falcons advance to the second round (double-elimination) of the GNAC Tournament. The Falcons will face fourth-seeded Saint Joseph's of Maine at top-seeded Suffolk University.

GNAC SCHEDULE - Softball Tournament
First Round - Wednesday, May 2 (single elimination)
Game 1 Final: #8 Lasell 5 | #5 Albertus Magnus 6
Game 2 Final: #7 Emmanuel 5 | #6 Saint Joseph (CT) 2

Second Round - Thursday, May 3 (double-elim begins)
Game 3: #5 Albertus Magnus vs. #4 Saint Joseph's Maine (at #1 Suffolk) - 3:00 PM
Game 4: #7 Emmanuel vs. #3 Simmons (at #2 JWU) - 3:00 PM
Game 5: Game 3 winner at #1 Suffolk - 5:30 PM
Game 6: Game 4 winner at #2 JWU - 5:30 PM 

Semifinals - Saturday, May 5 (hosted by #1 Suffolk)
Game 7: Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser (elim game) - 10:00 AM
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser (elim game) - 12:30 PM
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner - 3:00 PM
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (elim game) - 5:30 PM 

Championship - Sunday, May 6 (hosted by #1 Suffolk)
Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elim game) - 10:00 AM
Game 12: Game 11 winner vs.