FT. MYERS, FL - Lesley University split its double-header for the second straight day and with a late game win the team improved to 4-2 on the year, which is the best start in school history.
The Lynx started the day playing the 24th ranked team in the nation, Transylvania University. Lesley fought hard and eventually fell 6-0 to Transylvania in a game that was closer than the score indicated and could have easily gone the other way.
Christina Anzilotti (Pelham, NY) suffered her first loss of the year as she put forth a solid effort. Anzilotti game up five earned runs over six innings while striking out one and walking no one.
Lesley was unable to put anything together against the tough Transylvania pitching and defense even though they scraped together five team hits. Jodi Fralick (Woburn, MA), Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, MA), Katie Bennett (Bartlett, NH), Courtnie Leakeas (Lowell, MA) and Christina DiGiorgio (Lowell, MA) all recorded a hit in the game.
The Lynx were able to get through the first inning knotted at one but Transylvania struck in the second as they recorded four runs. Anzilotti then shut Transylvania down in the third, fourth and fifth but they struck again in the six recording the final two runs of the game.
Following the loss in the first game Lesley showed great resilience and held off a tough Framingham State team five to three, for a statement win. One inning of dynamic offense decided the game in which great pitching and defense dominated the rest of the game.
Framingham State struck first in the third inning with three runs to put some serious pressure on the Lynx. However, Lesley would respond in a big way in the bottom of the same inning.
The bottom of the third would start harmlessly enough for Framingham State. Fralick led off the third flying out to second, followed by Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, MA) singling, followed by Gianna Spaziante (Hawthorne, NY) flying out to center. So with two outs and one on things did not seem too dangerous for Framingham State. That would change with just two swings.
Sarah Wilson (Lowell, MA) kept the rally going as she hit a clutch single that would bring Saltzman up to the plate with two down and two on. Saltzman, who went on to receive NAC Player of the Week honors for her outstanding play, tied the game up with one swing as she blasted a three-run homerun to left field.
Saltzman's homerun shifted the game entirely and the Lynx were still not done. Katie Bennett (Bartlett, NH) started the second rally of the inning with a single. Leakeas reached on an error by the first baseman and Digiorgio, pinch running for Bennett, reached third. Leakeas would then steal second and would score on a Stephanie Amaral two RBI single. When Alicia Pari (N. Providence, RI) ended the inning striking out and the dust settled the score read Lesley University 5 Framingham State College 3.
From that point the Lynx rode the tails of Maureen Mikos (Fairfield, CT) to the victory as she improved her record to 2-1 on the season. Mikos went the distance for the Lynx as she let up zero earned runs over seven innings while striking out four and walking no one.
With the win Lesley improves to 4-2 overall and 4-0 in the Northeast Region. Lesley finishes its spring training trip with games against Salem State College and Wilmington College (OH). For more information on the Lesley softball team please go to their website.