CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In a match up of former North Atlantic Conference opponents, the Lesley University softball team defeated Thomas College twice on Thursday to improve to 11-8 (6-0 NECC). Thomas dropped to 4-8 (2-0 NAC) after the day’s losses.

Game One

The Terriers gained the early advantage in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs off of four hits in the frame. Mallorie Blakney (Fairfield, Me.) hit an infield single to leadoff the game and reached third base after a Brittany Morin (Winslow, Me.) double over the centerfielder’s head two batters later. The next hitter, Kristy Clements (Monroe, Me.), singled to bring in Blakney and Brittany Oxley (Vassalboro, Me.) smacked the second double of the inning to bring in two more runs.

Lesley starting pitcher Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) settled down over the next six innings by giving up just two hits and walking one batter. For the game, Burnett struck out seven while earning her sixth victory of the season.

The Lynx got a run back after scoring on two Thomas errors in the inning. Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, Mass.) reached first base, stole second, and later scored on a throwing error by the Terriers’ third baseman.

Jodi Fralick (Woburn, Mass.) brought the Lynx to within one run after squeezing home Cabral-Pini to make the score 3-2 in the third inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, designated player Ashley Cunningham’s (Mountain Top, Pa.) sacrifice fly brought home Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.) to tie the game.

Fralick cracked a single to center in the fifth to drive home Jenna Fralick (Woburn, Mass.). The RBI gave Lesley the 4-3 lead. Another run in the sixth inning off an RBI single from Jenna Fralick gave the Lynx an insurance run and Lesley won game one of the double header 5-3.

Game Two

Three runs batted in a piece from Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, Mass.) and Sarah Wilson (Lowell, Mass.) helped lead the Lynx to a 9-1 victory in game two.

Saltzman crushed a triple over the center fielder’s head with two runners in a four-run fifth inning. Wilson had two doubles and a single in the game to go along with two RBIs.

Cassandra Knox (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) pitched five solid innings, giving up just two hits and one run while striking out five for her fourth win of the season.

Also getting RBIs in the second game were Jenna Fralick and Cunningham.

Lesley will travel to Pine Manor College on Monday, April 13 for a double header starting at 3:30 pm. Thomas College goes to Husson College for a conference match up on Saturday, April 11.

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