Regis Softball Falls in Close Contests

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College took the early lead in the first game and attempted to rally from behind in the second game, but Lesley University was able to prevail in both contests, as the Lynx defeated the Pride, 5-4 and 4-2, Sunday afternoon in a non-conference collegiate softball doubleheader at the Regis Softball Field.

Game One – Lesley 5, Regis 4

With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Ellery Rasmussen (Kingston, N.H.) drew a walk and advanced to third on a single by Sarah Fawcett (Londonderry, N.H.). Erin Murphy (Bedford, N.H.) hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield, but the throw to first base was off-line, allowing Rasmussen to score the first run of the game.

The Pride extended their lead in the third inning as Rasmussen led off with a single, followed by a walk drawn by Fawcett. Murphy sent a double to left field that scored Rasmussen, and Brianna Napoleone (Medford, Mass.) drove in Fawcett with a single to left field. Napoleone stole second base, drawing a bad throw that scored Murphy to give Regis a 4-0 advantage.

Lesley started its comeback in the fourth inning as Lindsey Jensen send a double to center field that drove in Jordan Raab and Kristen DiCicco. In the top of the fifth inning, Riley Pickett drew a leadoff walk, and Raab hit a two-out, two-run home run over the left field fence to tie the game at 4-4.

Pickett led off the seventh inning by reaching on an error, followed by a double by Jordan Day to put runners on second and third. Ashleigh Acker was able to reach on an infield hit when her grounder hit the third base bag, loading the bases, and then Raab drew a walk to force in Pickett with the go-ahead run.

Regis created several scoring chances off Lesley pitcher Kara Haga, who allowed six hits and five walks, but the Pride stranded eight runners on base, including five in scoring position.

Nicole Tebo (Kingston, N.H.) started for the Pride and pitched five innings, allowing five hits, three walks, and four runs while striking out five batters. Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.) pitched a scoreless sixth inning and faced the first two hitters in the seventh before Madi McLellan (Fremont, N.H.) took over and finished off the inning.

Game Two – Lesley 4, Regis 2

Lesley (9-5) jumped on the board in the top of the first inning as Pickett and Day earned back-to-back singles, and Acker followed with a double to right field, scoring Pickett. In the third inning, Day hit a two-out single up the middle and then came around to score on another double to right field by Acker.

With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Pickett hit a shot over the fence in center field for a home run to increase the Lynx lead to 3-0.

Regis responded in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of consecutive errors by Lesley to put two runners on base. With two outs and runners at second and third, Fawcett hit a single that fell just inside the right field line, driving in Alyssa Rossillo (Sudbury, Mass.) and Kelsey Grimard (Pelham, N.H.) to cut the Pride deficit to one at 3-2.

The Lynx added an insurance run in the seventh inning as Jensen led off with a double to left field, advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field hit by Pickett. Meanwhile, Jen Thorburn retired the final seven Regis batters in order to close out her fifth victory of the season.

Keira Columbus (Fitchburg, Mass.) started for the Pride, allowing eight hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. McLellan, pitching for the first time Sunday since suffering a season-ending injury last April 18, worked the final 1 2/3 innings in the circle.

Regis (1-9) travels to Fitchburg State to face the Falcons in a doubleheader Thursday, March 28, starting at 3:30 p.m. Lesley is also on the road Thursday for its next contest, playing at Framingham State in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.