NEWTON, Mass. -- Simmons softball completed its sweep of the Lasell College Lasers, 8-1 Wednesday afternoon in a make up game that was rescheduled from April 1st.
The Sharks opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) singled up the middle and Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) cleared the bases with a two-run homer over the centerfield fence. Lauren Backahus (Windsor, Conn.) followed in the inning with a triple but the Lasers made the final out to end the inning, 2-0.
Lasell cut the Sharks lead in half in the top of the second, loading the bases with Nicole LeBlanc, Michaelea Grady and Erin Larghi. Eileen Bergi reached on a fielder's choice as the Sharks made the out at third. But LeBlanc scored from third to put the Lasers on the scoreboard.
The Lasers bats continued in the top of the third with hits by Santina Antoshak and Amanda Szidat, but Backahus struck out Courtney Moen and LeBlanc flew out to second base for two outs. Szidat was called out after she left early from first while the pitcher was in the circle to end the inning with two left on base.
Simmons added to their lead in the fourth as freshman Mikaela Caracciolo (North Attleboro, Mass.) started things off with a bunt down the third base line. Heather White (Westfield, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice and Jen Field (Windham, Maine) singled to move White to second. Cailin Pagel (Dorchester, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice as the Lasers made the play at second but White scored on the throw for the Sharks third run.
Backhaus struck out two and H. Cunningham made the play at shortstop for a one, two, three top of the fifth. The Sharks scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning as White singled to score E. Cunningham, Backhaus scored off an error by the third baseman, and Pagel singled up the middle to score White from second.
The Lasers struggled to start their offense in the sixth as LeBlanc grounded out to third and Backhaus struck out the next two batters. Simmons loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth and Caracciolo walked after a long at bat to send E. Cunningham across home plate. White reached on a fielder's choice and pinch runner Amy Maher (Milton, Mass.) scored from third to put the Sharks up 8-1.
Backhaus continued to dominate on the mound, striking out Erin Larghi and Ashley Pearson in the top of the seventh and E. Cunningham caught a pop fly from Eileen Bergin as the Sharks went on to win, 8-1.
With the win, the Sharks move to 17-7 overall and 10-4 in the conference while the Lasers fall to 6-20 overall and 3-11 in the GNAC. Backhaus picks up her 11th win the year, pitching all seven innings with 13 strikeouts, a season high. Alison Saluti takes the loss for the Lasers.
The Sharks next travel to Saint Joseph's (Me.) on Friday, April 12th for a GNAC double-header beginning at 3:30 p.m.