Norwich Explodes for Game One; Lasell Retaliates to Prevail in Nightcap

Norwich sprinted out to a 8-0 lead through the top of the third inning as a handful of Cadets produced at least one hit and one run each.   Noel Byers (Iron Mountain, MI) plated the go-ahead runs on a two-RBI single through the left side in the first inning but the rest of the damage was done in the third.  Erin Vien (Plymouth, NH) hit a one-bagger into right center field to score Byers followed by a three-run home run by Ellsworth which put the Cadets on top by six. Abby Belcher (Winthrop, MA) smacked a double to left for an RBI and Marley Balasco (Barrington, RI) walked to bring in the final run of the inning for Norwich.

In the bottom of the third inning, Lasell opened up scoring to cut the Cadets lead in half on five hits and one error. An Alyson Bermudez (Londonderry, NH) double into left center scored Candace Hankard (Wakefield, MA) and Talia DeChiara (Kingston, MA) who had previously reached on base-hits.  Michelle Torres (Waltham, MA) stepped up for Lasell's second consecutive double to bring Bermudez home and then Torres scored, unearned, after Marissa McHugh (Plymouth, MA) reached on a fielding error by the Cadets shortstop. 

Briana Day (Yelm, WA) launched a two-bag hit into center field to lead off for Norwich in the fourth. Lasell's defense highlighted the inning with a double-play on a ground-out by Vien from Bermudez at the pitch to Saluti at first, followed by the throw to third to get Day out.  Lasell ended the inning with a pop-up to Moen at second to escape any further runs from being scored. 

A Norwich pitching change in the fourth put Pratt on the mound for Kelsey Buker (Morrisville, VT). DeChiara, Ashley Laramie (Lynn, MA), and Jacqueline Saluti (Braintree, MA) walked to load the bases with two outs.  Pratt escaped the inning unscathed as Torres popped up to Walsh at third base to end the frame.

Belcher's third double of the game eventually led to Norwich's ninth run after Erin Clark (Bradford, VT)sent a subsequent double into center field for the run.  Lasell caught Balasco stealing second which allowed Clark to score on the throw, giving the Cadets a six run edge, and Norwich's sixth double of the contest, sliced by Day down the left field line, put two runners in scoring position. 

Kirsten Mammola (North Reading, MA), Lasell's starting pitcher, returned to the mound after 1.2 innings relief from Bermudez and Byers scored, unearned, after an error in Lasell's outfield yielded time to score.  Norwich held an 11-4 lead after four.

The visitors reinforced the edge in the seventh inning when Ellsworth blasted her second two-run homer over the center field fence, scoring Day in the process. 

In Lasell's last-ups, Torres started the Lasers off with a single into right field and a McHugh double pushed her to third.  A sacrifice bunt by Santina Antoshak (Closter, NJ) allowed Torres to score and McHugh rounded home on a Silvia sacrifice hit.  The contest ended, 13-6, before Lasell could recover further from the deficit. 

Norwich had 17 total hits in the game, including seven doubles and two home runs, to go along with seven walks.  Ellsworth cracked both of the Cadets homers, finishing the game with five RBI while going 3-for-5 at the plate.  Day also starred going 4-for-5 hitting with two doubles and two runs scored.  Clark and Belcher both had three hits in the game.

Buker struck out five Lasers while yielding just six hits and three earned runs to take the win on the mound in 3.1 innings of effort.  Pratt worked for 3.2 innings of relief, striking out one and giving up two hits and two runs.

Mammola was charged with the loss after striking out four Cadets in 5.1 total innings.  Torres went 2-for-4 in the leading game, with one double, two runs scored, and one RBI for Lasell. 

In the second contest, Lasell once again fell in arrears, 3-0, through the third inning.  Belcher scored two of those runs, first reaching home on a ground-out by Balasco in the top of the first inning and then rounding home on a Buker single in the third. Clark crossed home plate, unearned, in the third after a Laser miscue. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Laramie homered into center field to bring in two runs and close the gap to one run, 3-2, however the Cadets responded with two more runs in the next half frame.  Byers led off with a home run and a Maggie Walsh (North Plainfield, NJ) double brought Buker to home plate, leaving the score at 5-2.

Enter Haas, who stepped up to bat after Amy Doyle (Kingston, MA) reached on a fielder's choice and Silvia singled into right field.  Haas' home run evened the score at 5-all through five innings.

Norwich regained their lead in the top of the sixth as Day homered to score the final run of the day for the Cadets.  Antoshak, however, scored in the bottom of the frame, unearned, to knot the score at 6-all.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Silvia sliced a triple into center field which scored Doyle for the game winner and Kerrie Starkey (Keene, NH) for an insurance run. 

Samantha Whynot (Randolph, MA) struck out three en route to the Lasell victory in a complete game on the mound.  Whynot yielded six runs and five earned runs in the win.

Kaylie Miller (Long Lake, NY) took the loss for Norwich in six innings, retiring two batters on strikes and giving up seven hits and five earned runs. 

Silvia went 3-for-3 in game two with a triple, a run, and two RBI. 

In their next doubleheader, Lasell will entertain local non-conference foe Brandeis University on Thursday, March 31st at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Taylor Field.