Softball Splits Doubleheader Against Lasell for First Win of the Season

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Softball team hosted Lasell University for a conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 9 | Lasell University 7
Records: Blazers 1-23, 1-10 (GNAC) | Lasers 9-15, 5-8 (GNAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 0 | Lasell University 2
Records: Blazers 1-24, 1-11 (GNAC) | Lasers 10-15, 6-8 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Junior pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) would take the ball in the first game for Elms. In the top of the first inning, the Blazers defense would catch a runner stealing, when first year catcher/utility player Lizzie Jamrog (Suffield, Conn.) would throw the ball down to junior infielder/pitcher Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) to catch the runner trying to steal second base. In the bottom of the first inning, first year utility player Cheyann Goddard (Pittsfield, Mass.) would hit a single up the middle, but neither team would score in the inning. The second inning would see the two conference foes remain scoreless, but the Lasers would score on a wild pitch in the top of third inning. Then in the bottom half of the inning, first year outfielder Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.) would earn a walk and would advance after junior utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) would bunt a single. Goddard would then reach base on a fielder's choice and Glover would advance to third base. Then with a 1-1 count, Dykema would drive in Glover with a double to right field to tie the game. Then in the next at bat, Jamrog would hit a single to center field to drive in Goddard and Dykema to take the lead. In the top of the fourth inning, the Elms defense would keep their opposition from scoring, only allowing one hit in the inning. Then in the bottom half of the fourth, junior pitcher/utility player Caity Flynn (Colchester, Conn.) would reach base on an error committed by the third baseman and would advance to second base, followed by a walk to first year catcher/utility player Jordyn Rossi (West Springfield, Mass.). Flynn would then score when first year infielder Ashlyn Cullity (Wilmington, Mass.) would single on a bunt and the catcher would commit an error. Glover would then hit a single on a bunt to load the bases. Then Raymond would earn a walk to bring Rossi across the plate to extend their lead. Moments later, Dykema would hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Cullity to bring the score to 6-1. In the fifth inning, the Lasell offense would not be able to score after three ground outs, with the Blazers adding base runners when Zakaitis would earn a walk and steal second base, a walk to Flynn, and a bunt single by Rossi, but the Elms offense would be unable to score. In the top of the sixth inning, the Lasers would score five runs to tie the game, 6-6. Then in the bottom half of the inning, Raymond would earn a walk and would be driven in by a double to center field by Dykema to regain the lead. Then moments later, Jamrog would hit a double of her own to left center field to bring Dykema across the plate. Zakaitis would earn a walk and both runners would advance on wild pitches. Then Flynn would hit a sacrifice fly to right field that would see Jamrog score. In the top of the seventh inning, Lasell would score a run, but Zakaitis would strikeout a batter and a fly ball to center field would end the game and the Blazers would secure their first win of the season, defeating the Lasers 9-7 in the first game of the afternoon.

Game 2
Sophomore pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) would start in the second game in the pitcher's circle for Elms, where she would record two swinging strikeouts in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first would see Goddard hit a single to right field, but both teams would be held scoreless in the first two innings. In the top of the third inning, Jamrog and Dykema would catch their second runner of the day trying to steal a base, and the inning would end with a scoreless game. In the fourth inning, Lasell would record a hit, but the Blazers defense would continue to keep them from scoring. The Elms offense would make solid contact in the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Lasers defense would keep the Blazers from scoring in the inning. In the top of the fifth inning, the Lasell offense would score the first run of the game and would keep Elms from scoring in the later half of the inning. In the sixth inning, Dykema would relieve Hebert in the circle after allowing two runners on base. Then with the bases loaded with two outs, Dykema would strikeout the batter swinging to end the inning and get out of the jam. In the bottom of the sixth, Glover would hit a single to right field and Goddard would earn a walk, but the Blazers would not be able to capitalize in the inning and would be held scoreless. In the top of the seventh inning, Dykema would throw back-to-back swinging strikeouts to end the inning, but the Lasers would score on the first strikeout after a dropped third strike. In the bottom half of the inning Jamrog would lead off with a single past the shortstop, but the Lasell defense would record the three outs and defeat Elms 2-0 to split the conference doubleheader.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dykema: two hits, with two doubles, two runs scored, and three runs batted-in at the plate, and would pitch two innings with three strikeouts.

• Zakaitis: two walks and a stolen base at the plate, would pitch seven innings with a strikeout and would earn the win in Game 1.

• Hebert: would pitch five innings, with two strikeouts.

• Raymond: a hit, a run scored, a run batted-in, and two walks.

• Goddard: two hits, a run scored, and a walk.

• Jamrog: three hits, with a double, a run scored, and three runs batted-in.

• Flynn: a run scored, a run batted-in, and a walk.

• Rossi: a hit, a run scored, and a walk.

• Cullity: a hit, a run scored, and a run batted-in.

• Glover: two hits, a run scored, and a walk.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will host Fisher College in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 15th at 3 & 5 pm at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

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