Salem State Splits With Lasell, Coach Isabella Russo Notches First Win

SALEM, Mass. -- Salem State starting pitcher Gracie Hogan (Blackstone, Mass.) scattered 10 hits and allowed just three runs as Salem State won the second game of their scheduled doubleheader, 7-3 over Lasell, giving new head coach Isabella Russo her first program win on Thursday at Alumni Field. Mackenzie DeSantis (Ridge, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the offense. The Lasers Eryn Sheeley (North Haven, Conn.) pitched a complete game two-hitter to lead Lasell to a 12-0 game one victory over the Vikings.   

Game One

A single by DeSantis (Ridge, N.Y.) in the second and a base hit by Sydney Chiasson (Hudson, Mass.) in the third accounted for Salem State's only hits. Sheeley struckout 12 and walked five to improve to 4-3 on the year. Brianna Gendreau (Warren, R.I.) went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs for Lasell's offensive attack. The Lasers struck for single runs in the first three innings, including an RBI single by Gendreau in the first inning, making the score 1-0. Gendreau tripled home another run in the fourth before an RBI double by Katie Hopkins (Garden City Park, N.Y.) gave the Lasers a 5-0 lead. Lasell blew the game open in the seventh, scoring seven runs on four hits and three Vikings' errors. Mackenzie Still (Middleboro, Mass.) doubled in a run, giving Lasell a 9-0 lead. A single by Samara Turgeon (Dartmouth, Mass.) and a sacrifice fly by Gendreau plated two more runs before an error led to the final score of the inning and a 12-0 lead. 

Angelena Piers (Rayham, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with three RBI for the Lasers. Still and Turgeon each had two hits and two runs scored with an RBI. Emily Carter (Warwick. R.I.) took the loss, going seven innings and allowing 12 runs - six earned on 13 hits with six walks and five strikeouts.

Game Two

Salem State struck for four first inning runs off starter Meghan Theall (Billerica, Mass.), highlighted by a two-run double by DeSantis.  The Lasers closed to within a run in the second on a single by Meghan Theall (Billerica, Mass.) and a two-run double by Still. Leading 4-3 in the bottom of the bottom of the third, DeSantis singled home her third run of the game before Hogan made the score 6-3 with a sacrifice fly to right field. A sacrifice fly by Rebecca Walker (Lynn, Mass.) tacked on an insurance run for the Vikings in the fourth as Hogan allowed just three singles the rest of the way to secure her first win of the year (1-2).

Theall pitched six innings, giving up seven runs - three earned on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Walker finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored for Salem State (1-11). Still went 3-for-4 with two RBI for Lasell, which is now 6-8 on the season.