THE BASICS

Score: 
GM 1 – Lesley University, 5 vs Thomas College, 11
GM 2 – Lesley University, 12 vs SUNY Cobleskill 3

Location: Bangor, Maine.- Winkin Complex

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025

THE LEAD – In the opening round of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) baseball playoffs, No.2 seeded Lesley fell in game one to No.3 seed Thomas College, 11-5. However, in the second game, the Lynx were able to keep their postseason hopes alive in a winner take all game against No.4 seed SUNY Cobleskill by topping the Fighting Tigers, 12-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

• In the first two innings, both sides were held scoreless but each had their own moments to get on the board first. For Thomas, the Terriers were able to get runners at second and third with two outs in the top of the first. However, Lesley starter Jacob Nemergut (Monroe, Conn.) escaped the jam by retirign the next two batters via strikeout and ground out. 
• Meanwhile for the Lynx, the squad also had a great chance in the bottom half of the frame after a Colin McCarthy (Rehoboth, Mass.) walk loaded the bases with just one out. Despite the threat, Thomas starter Andrew Pruell, ended the Lesley threat by retiring the next two batters and kept things scoreless.
• After a scoreless second from both sides, the Terriers broke things open with a four-run third to go up 4-0. Cam Haynes highlighted the Thomas scoring that inning with a two-run RBI double that found a gap in left center.
• Pruell continued his dominat ways into the third and fourth by retiring six-straight batters and the Terriers gave their ace more insurance runs with a three-run fifth to make it 7-0. Even with the large deficit, the Lynx would not go quietly as the squad cut the deficit to three (7-4) during the bottom of the fifth with a four-run inning. McCarthy highlighted the scoring in the inning thanks to a bases clearing RBI double to deep left center which made it 7-3 at the time.
• However, Thomas responded later in the contest by getting three runs back in the seventh which pushed the Terrier up to six (10-4). Lesley would answer in the bottom half of the seventh cutting the Thomas lead in half (10-5) courtesy of an Owen Kalagher (Fairfield, Conn.) RBI double. 
• After a scoreless eighth, Thomas would tack on another run in the ninth making it 11-5 and unfortunately Lesley could not rally in the bottom half of the inning resulting in a Terriers win. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1)

• McCarthy led the Lynx offense with three RBIs in the opening game. It marked his 12th multi-RBI game on the year. 
• On the mound, Nemergut took the loss after going 3.0 innings while allowing three hits and four runs while striking out two.
• For the Thomas, three different Terriers notched multiple RBIs in Haynes, Samuel Keblinsky, and Tony Meza with two apiece.
• Pruell earned the win in game one after tossing 6.0 innings and allowing seven hits and five runs while fanning five.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

• In game two, the Lesley offense made sure to strike first the as the Lynx opened the contest with three runs in the first two innings. In the first, James Brandon (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) got things going for Lesley with a solo shot over the fence in left. Later in the second, the Lynx took advantage of wild pitches and smart base running to go up 3-0 which included a steal of home from Colby Jacobs (Charlton, Mass.).
• The two early runs were plenty for Lesley starter Raymond Morales (Naugatuck, Conn.) who kept SUNY Cobleskill hitless through the first three innings. The Lynx rewarded their starter with two more runs in the top half of the fourth which pushed their lead to five (5-0). Christian McElroy (Toms River, N.J.) pushed across the first run with an RBI single. Later in the frame, McCarthy drove a double to left center that allowed McElroy to score.
• Despite allowng a lead-off single in the bottom of the fourth, Morales would not be phased as the first year retired the next three batters which included a strikeout.
• Between the fifth and sixth innings, SUNY Cobleskill would combine to score two runs and make it a 5-2 ballgame which included an RBI from Zach Ducorsky in the fifth, and Christian Tedford taking advantage of a Lesley error. 
• Even with the momentum the Fighting Tigers generated in the previous two innings, Lesley made sure to put things out of reach in the top of the seventh thanks to a six-run inning which increased its lead up to eight (11-3). McElroy highlighted the high scoring inning thanks to a two-run RBI double down the left field line which made it 9-3 at the time.
• Morales would continue to pitch into the bottom of the seventh and even though he allowed a run, he ultimately retired the next two batters on strikeouts.
• Lesley's offense continued to stay hot and responded with a run of its own in the top of the eighth thanks to a Morales RBI single making it 12-3. From then on, Lynx pitcher Charles Ambroult (Quincy, Mass.) kept the Fighting Tigers off the board in the eighth and ninth for the 12-3 Lynx victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 2)

• McCarthy and McElroy each paced the Lesley offense with three RBIs apeice in game two. Morales was the Lynx hitter with multiple RBIs finishing with two. 
• On the mound, Morales was stellar. The first year from Naugatuck, Conn. picked up the win behind his best start of the year going 6.0 allowing six hits, three runs (one earned), and struck out a career-high eight batters.
• Ducorsky was the only hitter from SUNY Cobleskill to record an RBI in game two. 
• Logan Scott earned the loss after going just 2.1 IP while allowing two hits and three runs and striking out two.
• Lesley outhit SUNY Cobleskill, 13-7. 
• For the 12th time this year, the Lynx have scored 10-plus runs and are now 10-2 in those contests.
• The Lynx are now 3-3 all-time versus the Fighting Tigers and winners of three of the last four matchups.

UP NEXT

• Lesley will play the loser of No.1 seed Husson vs. No. 3 seed Thomas tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. at Husson.