CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In a match of two of the top teams in the New England Collegiate Conference, the Lesley University Lynx and Elms College Blazers softball teams split a double header in two competitive games.  The Lynx moved their 2009 record to 14-9 (7-1 NECC) while suffering their first loss in-conference while the Blazers finished the day at 11-10 (8-2 NECC).

Game One

Lesley took game one from Elms 4-2 behind some timely hitting from third baseman Sarah Wilson (Lowell, Mass.) who laced a two-RBI single to center field with two outs in the fourth inning.  The hit was part of a three-run inning that broke what had been a scoreless game to that point.  Wilson would later cross home plate on an RBI single from Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.)

Elms came right back in the top half of the fifth and scored a two-out run of their own after a throwing error with two runners in scoring position.  The Blazers cut Lesley's lead to 3-1 going into the bottom of the inning.

Elms' sophomore hurler Ani Ramsdell (Gardner, Mass.) set down the Lynx one-two-three in the bottom of the fifth by striking out two and forcing a fly out.  Ramsdell, who moved to 5-6 with the loss, finished the game with 6.0 innings pitched and six strikeouts while giving up just one earned run.

The Blazers trimmed the lead to one-run after Ally Graffum (Ipswich, Mass.) singled through the right side of the infield to start the inning.  Graffum later scored on a fielder's choice groundout by Kelly Callahan (Monson, Mass.). 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lesley added an insurance run after senior shortstop Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, Mass.) roped a triple over the left fielder's head and scored on a groundout by Jodi Fralick (Woburn, Mass.). 

Lesley would shut the door on Elms in the final frame as Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) finished off the complete game victory.  Burnett tallied eight strikeouts in the game as the senior improved to 8-5 on the season.

Game Two

Elms rebounded in the second game of the double header to defeat Lesley 5-2 behind 11 hits.  Three Blazers had multi-hit games and pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) struck out 10 Lynx batters in an impressive performance on the mound.

Alison McBride (East Providence, R.I.) went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the Blazers as her biggest at-bat came in the third inning when the sophomore roped a triple in between the center and right fielder's.  The triple scored the runner from first base, but McBride attempted to stretch her triple into an inside-the-park home run but was gunned out at the plate.

Elms' Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, Mass.) also recorded two RBIs on a 2-for-3 day at the plate and Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) scored three runs out of the leadoff spot.

Lesley's Sarah Wilson continued her hot hitting, going 2-for-3 with her third RBI on the day. 

The Lynx attempted a late-game comeback after an RBI single from Ashley Cunningham (Mountain Top, Pa.) brought home Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, Mass.) but Wilson, who started on second base, was thrown out at home by Blazers' left fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, R.I.).

Lesley will be back in action on Friday, April 17 as the team travels to NEWMAC opponent Wellesley College.  The Lynx last faced Wellesley in last year's NCAA Tournament, losing to the Blue 3-2.  Elms hosts The Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent Western New England College on Thursday, April 16.

To learn more about the Lesley University softball team, please visit their website.

Contact:          Rob Palardy                       
                        Sports Information Director
                        Lesley University
                        617.349.8627 (office)
                        617.349.8640 (fax)
                        rpalardy@lesley.edu