Softball Splits Doubleheader with Lasell

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference softball doubleheader Wednesday at Regis Softball Field with Lasell University, winning the first game, 6-1, and dropping game two, 4-1.

GAME ONE: REGIS 6, LASELL 1

After beginning the game Saturday, Apr. 9, with two strikeouts, Kayla Morrill (Lynn, Mass.) and Madison Smith (Malden, Mass.) got things started for the Pride, hitting back-to-back singles in the bottom of the first inning. An error by the Lasell shortstop allowed Sarah Fawcett (Londonderry, N.H.) to reach first, advancing Smith to second and allowing Morrill to score from third. 

On the ensuing at-bat, Diana Petrarca (Coventry, R.I.) doubled, scoring Smith and sending Fawcett to third base. Ciara Collins (Lynn, Mass.) then knocked in two runs with a bases-clearing single. Chloe Beland (Southborough, Mass.) was hit by a pitch on the next at-bat to put runners at first and second, setting up Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) who singled to right field, scoring Collins. Burke would then score on a wild pitch, giving Regis a 6-0 advantage.

A burst of rain and lightning halted the game, the remainder of which would be completed on Wednesday. 

After play resumed, Regis was able to fend off the Lasers, only allowing one run in the fifth inning to maintain its advantage. 

Regis pitcher Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) earned her fourth win of the season, striking out a career-high 10 batters out of the 28 that she faced. McGrath pitched the complete game, only allowing three hits and zero earned runs while throwing 71 strikes on 103 total pitches.

GAME TWO: LASELL 4, REGIS 1

Lasell struck first in game two when Mackenzie Still tripled to right field to lead off for the Lasers. Later in the inning, she was driven in on a single by Brianna Gendreau to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, both Fawcett and Morrill would draw walks, putting runners at first and second. A sharp single to left field by Beland allowed Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.), who was pinch-running for Fawcett, to score from second, tying the game at 1-1.

In the top of the sixth, Lasell would retake the lead, scoring three runs on four hits, putting the game out of reach for the Pride. 

Megan Theall threw one strikeout in the win for the Lasers, coming in to relieve starting pitcher Eryn Sheeley, who threw five strikeouts through four innings. Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.) pitched for the Pride with Jilian Glynn (Londonderry, N.H.) coming on in relief in the fifth inning. 

Regis College (9-16, 5-5 GNAC) next hosts Eastern Nazarene Thursday, Apr. 21, in a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. Lasell plays a doubleheader at Fitchburg State on the same day, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.