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Box Score 2 NEWTON, Mass. – The Norwich University softball team picked up a big doubleheader sweep against Lasell College on Tuesday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.
Norwich (7-17, 5-11 GNAC) downed Lasell 2-0 in the opener and then squeaked out a 4-3 win in the nightcap to keep its GNAC playoff hopes alive.
Norwich senior Corinne Baita (Rochester, N.H.) spun a gem in the first game, holding Lasell to no runs on two hits and one walk, while striking out seven to earn her fourth win of the season. Baita also drove in a run while going 1-for-3 at the plate with a single. Junior Taylor Morris (Haverhill, N.H.) singled twice and drove in the Cadets first run of the game, and senior Melissa Rome (Enfield, Conn.) added a double in three at-bats and a run scored.
The two teams sped through the opening three innings with Nicole LeBlanc recording the lone Lasell hit with a two-out single in the first inning, while Morris singled with one out in the second for Norwich.
In the top of the fourth, Norwich put runners on second and third with one out following a Lasell error and a double down the left field line by Rome. Taylor singled to left to plate freshmen Sarah Perry (New Bedford, Mass.) and the Cadets made it 2-0 on a single to center by Baita before Bergin induced a pop up to end the inning.
Lasell threatened in the home half of the sixth when Eileen Bergin reached on an error and junior Erin Larghi walked to put runners on first and second, however Baita struck out the next the next two Lasers to end the inning.
A one-out single by Laura MacLeod started a seventh inning rally for Lasell, but the hosts were unable to cut into the deficit, falling 2-0.
In Game 2, Norwich scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead nad then the Cadets held off a late Lasell rally attempt in the bottom of the sixth to preserve the 4-3 win and the crucial pair of victories.
Lasell got on the board in the bottom half of the third when Emily Noll reached on a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Nicole LeBlanc to put Lasell in front 1-0.
Norwich answered back in the top of the fifth inning, as junior Justina George (Wallingford, Conn.) and Perry both walked, followed by a RBI double from Rome, knotting the score at 1-1. Morris walked to load the bases and Enko gave way to Bergin in the circle for Lasell with nobody out. Bergin got junior Angie Hershberger (Felton, Calif.) to pop out for the first out of the inning, but back-to-back run scoring singles from freshmen Kassy Kazimierczak (Adams, Mass.) and sophomore Sarah Peyton (Eagle River, Alaska) followed by an RBI groundout by sophomore Jordan Day (Andover, Mass.) put the visiting Cadets up 4-1 heading into the bottom half of the fifth inning.
Lasell began mounting a comeback in the home half of the sixth inning, with Noll singling with two outs to spark the Lasers. Mickayla Cobb then singled and both runners moved up to second and third on a passed ball. LeBlanc plated Noll with a single to left field, and Cobb came in to score on an RBI single by junior Emily DeAngelis. Baita replaced Morris in the circle for Norwich, retiring Erin Larghi for the final out of the inning and ending the threat.
Lasell was unable to push across the tying run in the bottom of the seventh and Baita earned her first save of the season.
Norwich will return to action on Wednesday, April 15th when it takes on Simmons College in GNAC play beginning at 3:00 p.m. while Lasell will square-off with Albertus Magnus College on Wednesday as well, hosting the Falcons for a double dip beginning at 3:00 p.m.
