Lasers Preserve Eight Game Win Streak with Duel Wins over Emerson

Written by: Matt Cermola, Athletics Intern

WALTHAM, MA- The Lasell College baseball team stretched its winning streak to eight on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Emerson College in a doubleheader,  5-1 in game one and 3-1 in game two.

In the first game, the Lasers jumped ahead in the bottom of the first off Emerson starting pitcher Nick McGregor (McLean, VA). With help from the Emerson defense, who committed four errors in the inning, Lasell scored thee runs without a ball leaving the infield.

Emerson would get one back in the third off Lasell starter Mike Rodriguez (Brockton, MA). After an error and a hit batsman to load the bases, Rodriguez walked third baseman Cal Ciarcia (Kingston, MA) to bring in a run, cutting the lead to 3-1. 

The Lasers would add two off McGregor in the sixth. After leading off the inning with a double to right centerfield, Billy Uberti (Newton, MA) advanced to third on a Carlton Lentini (Wilmington, MA) ground out. Uberti would score on a successful suicide squeeze by Mike Mahoney (Rockland, MA). Later in the inning Mahoney would score on a ground out by Matt Mahoney (Rockland, MA) to make the score 5-1.

Rodriguez picked up the win, going all seven innings, not allowing an earned run, while striking out four.

McGregor would take the loss despite pitching well, going six innings, allowing five runs, none of them earned on just six hits.

Game two featured another strong outing from a Lasell starting pitcher, this one from reigning Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) pitcher of the week, freshman Eric Howard (Newton, MA). 

With the score still untouched in the bottom of the second, Lasell rallied for two runs off Emerson starting pitcher Ben Quick (Marcellus, NY).  After Uberti was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from first on a Lentini double, Mike Mahoney knocked in Lentini for the first Lasell run on a single over the head of shortstop Ryan Garber (Holhdel, NJ) .  After a Matt Mahoney base hit, Bobby Stachura (Middletown, CT) and Joshua Sullivan (Rockland, MA) drew back-to-back walks to force in the second Lasell run, making the lead 2-0.

Howard continued to look good, carrying a perfect game into the forth with help in the top of the third from Stachura. With two outs, right fielder Austin Fontanella (Pelhanm, NH) hit a sharp ground ball down the third base line. Stachura made a great diving stop and throw to rob the speedy Fontanella of extra bases and preserve the perfect game.

In the bottom of the inning Lasell tacked on another. With Matt Mahoney on second, Sullivan singled to centerfield, bringing around Mahoney.

Howard, who entered the sixth allowing just one hit, found himself in a jam. With the bases loaded and just one out, Emerson catcher Geoff Lopes (Falmouth, MA) doubled off the left field wall scoring two. With the tying and go ahead runs in scoring position with just one out, Howard would get back to back groundouts from Ciarcia and leftfielder Peter Maltzan (Lexington, MA) to get out of the jam.

Howard went the distance getting the win, pitching his second complete game in a row. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five.

Quick took the loss for the Lions going six innings, allowing thee runs on nine hits.

The Lasers move to 18-10 on the season, and 6-4 in GNAC play, and will take on conference opponent Suffolk University on Sunday, April 17th, at the Rams home field, at noon.