BOSTON -- An eight-run explosion in the fifth inning rocketed the Lynx to a 9-1 victory over Emmanuel in five innings Monday night at Roberto Clemente Field.

Named New England Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Week by day, Lesley starter Cassandra Knox shined beneath the Boston skyline by night, earning her fifth win of the year in allowing only four hits and a run in her five-inning complete game.

After Emmanuel's Kelly Lloid singled to put the Saints up 1-0 in the third, Alyson Durben's solo home run to left, her second homer of the year, tied the contest an inning later.

Emmanuel fell apart during Lesley's eight-run fifth, which started with a walk followed by three straight errors as the Saints struggled to defend Lesley's bunting attack. Gabrielle Brixey scored a pair on what was originally an inside-the-park home run but was overruled into a two-run, ground-rule double into the corner in right.

She scored soon enough, though, coming around on NECC Rookie of the Week Jennifer Dorval's RBI single that made it a 7-1 game. The Lynx tacked on two more unearned runs in the inning, going ahead 9-1 mid-fifth.

Knox retired the Saints in order in the bottom of the inning, closing out Lesley's eighth win in its last 10 games.

At 11-6, the Lynx return to play on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Lesley looks to improve on its 2-0 start to the NECC slate, playing host to Wheelock College.