WALTHAM, Mass. – The Norwich University baseball team got off to a tough start in 2011 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Saturday as Lasell College pounded out 31 hits and outscored the Cadets 21-0 in capturing both games of a doubleheader played at Marcus Field on the campus of Brandeis University. Lasell improves to 13-10 overall and 2-4 in conference play while NU's struggles continue as it falls to 0-13 and 0-2 in the GNAC. Norwich served as the designated home team for the games, as they could not be held on the Cadets' home field due to unplayable conditions.

Eric Horward (3-0) threw a seven-inning complete game to pick up the win for Lasell in the opener, giving up only three hits in the process. Howard struck out 12 and allowed only one walk in a dominating performance on the mound.

Bill Urberti led the way for the Lasers in batter's box for the first game, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, capped by a two-run blast in a six-run fifth inning to push the lead to 7-0.

Christopher Pittman went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Michael Mahoney added a homerun of his own from the nine-spot to help round out the Lasers' game one attack.

Senior 1B Dustin Fleming, sophomore OF Dustin Shimkus and freshman INF Devin Cilley picked up the Cadets' hits, all singles.

The nightcap was a defensive battle through four innings as both teams threatened but could not push across any runs on either Lasell starter William Uberti (1-1) or Norwich's sophomore RHP Conar Mahon (0-2).

The Lasers broke through for two runs in the fifth, however, as Joshua Sullivan and Conor Cavanagh both reached on one-out singles before coming around to score.

Lasell added two runs in the top of the six before sealing the game with four runs in seventh. Mahon was tagged with all eight runs in the loss, despite a valiant effort. He struck out five and walked three in 6.1 innings of work.

Urberti struck out six and walked two in recording the Lasers' second complete game on the afternoon.

Cavanagh finished the contest 2-for-5 with three RBI, while Andrew Pompeo and Carlton Lentini chipped in two RBI apiece for LC.

Junior DH Mitch Blair went 3-for-3 with a double to pace Norwich offensively in the second game. Shimkus drilled a first-inning double in going 1-for-2. The everyday right fielder for the Cadets has now hit safely in 10 straight games.  

Norwich is back on the road Sunday, Apr. 10, as they travel to clash with conference foe Suffolk in another twinbill. The first game is set to get underway at 1 p.m.