Lesley falls to WNEC in ECAC Quarterfinals

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - In their first ever appearance in the Division III Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Softball Championships, the Lesley University Lynx fought hard through seven innings against Western New England College but were defeated 2-0.  Lesley finishes their 2009 campaign with a 27-14 mark which is just three wins off their record setting total in 2008.

The quarterfinal game against the Golden Bears proved to be a pitcher's duel as Lesley's Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, Fla./Milton) and WNEC's Laura Bower (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) gave up a total of nine hits combined.  The two runs charged against Burnett were both unearned as the senior lowered her season's ERA to 2.58.  Bower impressed with five strikeouts and didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning as the senior improved to 13-5 on the season.

The Golden Bears successful got their leadoff batter on base in the first and second innings, but Lesley showed early flashes of defensive prowess as the visitors escape both innings unscathed.  Helping to keep WNEC off the base paths was Lynx senior second baseman Christina DiGiorgio (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) who made two spectacular plays in the field: a diving stop on a groundball nearly through the right side of the infield to get the runner at first and a leaping grap on a popup in short right field.

In the top of the fifth inning, Lesley centerfielder Gianna Spaziante (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake) delivered the first hit of the game for the Lynx with a single over the head of the shortstop with one out.  The Lynx, who have been aggressive on the bases all season long, took a chance and sent Spaziante out for a second base stolen base attempt but WNEC catcher Elyse Gauvin (Swansea, Mass./Joseph Case) rifled a throw right on the bag to get the runner and end the threat.

With momentum on their side, the Golden Bears executed a two-out rally to score the games only runs in the bottom half of the fifth.  Erin Griffin (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) hit a groundball to third base but the throw to first went wild and Griffin was able to advance to second base.  The next batter, Lauren Arsenault (Fitchburg, Mass./St. Bernards Central Catholic), singled to right field to put runners on first and third base.  After Arsenault stole second base, Trish Breault (Millville, Mass./Blackstone-Millville Regional) singled up the middle to score Griffin and Arsenault to put WNEC up 2-0. 

In Lesley's final at bat of the game, both Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass./Nashoba Regional) and Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, Mass./Lynn English) were able to reach base to put runners on first and second but Bower forced a fly out to end the game and advance WNEC into the next round. 

Durben reached base twice for the Lynx, going 1-for-2 with a single and a walk. 

WNEC moves on to play #1 seed Brandeis University in the start of the double-elimination portion of the ECAC Championships starting on Saturday, May 9. 

2009 ECAC DIVISION III New England Softball Championship

Complete Bracket 

First Round - Wednesday, May 6

No. 8 Curry 0 at No. 1 Brandeis 1  Box Score  Game Story
No. 7 Salve Regina, 3 at No. 2 Keene State, 7  Box Score  Game Story
No. 6 Plymouth State 2 at No. 3 St. Joseph's of ME 1 Box Score  Box Score  Game Story
No. 5 Lesley 0 at No. 4 WNEC 2 Box Score  Game Story

Double Elimination (Day 1) - Saturday, May 9  at highest remaining seed

Game 1: No. 1 Brandeis 11 vs. No. 4 WNEC 3  Box Score
Game 2: No. 2 Keene State 4 vs. No. 6 Plymouth State 1
Game 3: WNEC 0 vs. Plymouth State 5
Game 4: Brandeis 3 vs. Keene State 6

Double Elimination (Day 2) - Sunday, May 10

Game 5: Plymouth State 4 vs. Brandeis 6
Game 6: Keene State 11 vs. Brandeis 1

Complete Release

 To learn more about the Lesley University softball team, please visit their website.

Story Courtesy of Lesley Sports Information