Softball Starts the 2026 Season Against Bethany and Pittsburgh-Bradford

NAPLES, Fla. - The Elms College Softball team began the 2026 season against Bethany College, W.V. and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford as a part of the 36th Annual Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic at the North Collier Regional Park.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 0 | Bethany College, W.V. 9
Records: Blazers 0-1, 0-0 (GNAC) | Bison 3-0, 0-0 (PAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 3 | University of Pittsburgh at Bradford 11
Records: Blazers 0-2, 0-0 (GNAC) | Panthers 2-0, 0-0 (AMCC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Elms would have sophomore pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) in the pitching circle in game one against Bethany, but the Bison bats would score two runs in the top of the first inning. In the bottom half of the inning, the Blazers would see junior utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine), first year catcher/utility player Lizzie Jamrog (Suffield, Conn.), and junior pitcher/utility player Caity Flynn (Colchester, Conn.) earn walks, but no runs would be scored. In the top of the second, Hebert would strikeout the first two batters swinging and the Elms defense would hold Bethany scoreless in the inning. In the bottom of the second inning, sophomore outfielder Tyanez Padilla (Springfield, Mass.) would walk, followed by a single by Hebert, and both runners would advance two bases on the play due to an error committed by the center fielder, but once again the Blazers offense would be held scoreless. In the top of the third inning, the Bison would add a run, but Hebert would strikeout the final batter of the inning swinging. In the bottom half of the inning, Jamrog would reach base on error and would advance to second base, but Elms would not score during the inning. In the top of the fourth, Flynn would relieve Hebert and would pitch the remainder of the first game. Unfortunately, Bethany would add four more runs to their lead during the inning. In the top of the fifth inning, the Bison would score two more runs to bring their lead to 10-0. In the bottom of the fifth, the Blazers would see Hebert earn a walk and junior infielder/pitcher Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) hit a single to left field, but that would not be enough and Bethany would defeat Elms 10-0.

Game 2
The Blazers would face off against Pittsburgh-Bradford in the second game of the day. In the top of the first inning, Dykema would earn a walk, but Elms would be held scoreless in the inning. Junior pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) took the ball for the Blazers in the bottom half of the inning, but the Panthers would score four runs in the first inning and an additional five runs in the second inning. During the bottom of the second, Zakaitis would throw one swinging strikeout. In the top of the third, first year outfielder Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.) would earn a walk, but Elms would not be able to score. In the bottom half of the third inning, Dykema would come into the game to relieve Zakaitis. Pittsburgh-Bradford would score two more runs, but Dykema would end the inning with a swinging strikeout of her own. In the top of the fourth inning, Flynn, Jamrog, and Padilla would all earn walks to load the bases with two outs, but the Blazers would be unable to score. In the bottom half of the inning, Dykema and the Elms defense would hold the Panthers scoreless, and Dykema would strikeout her second batter. The Blazers would load the bases to begin the fifth inning, with Glover and Dykema both earning walks and Raymond reaching base on an error committed by the first baseman. Zakaitis would then earn a walk to have Glover score for the first run of the 2026 season. Flynn would then hit a single to left field and would advance to second that would drive-in Raymond for their second run. Zakaitis would score on the next play as Jamrog grounded out at second base. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh-Bradford would walk away with the 11-3 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Raymond: a run scored and a walk.

• Dykema: a hit and two walks at the plate, and would pitch two innings with two strikeouts.

• Jamrog: a run batted-in and two walks.

• Flynn: a hit, a run batted-in, and two walks at the plate, and pitched two innings.

• Zakaitis: a run scored, a run batted-in, and a walk at the plate, and pitched two innings with a strikeout.

• Padilla: two walks.

• Glover: a run scored and two walks.

• Hebert: a hit and a walk at the plate, would pitch three innings with three strikeouts.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will continue to compete in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. on Monday, March 9th, against SUNY Cobleskill and Drew University at 9 & 11 am at the Lee Health Sports Complex.

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