Blazers Drop Rubber-Game To Becker

HOLYOKE, Mass. – The Elms College baseball team couldn't overcome a four-run fifth inning from Becker, falling 7-4 in the series finale to the Hawks.

The Blazers led 2-0 after a two-run second inning but Becker got one run back in the third and pulled ahead 5-2 after the big fifth inning. Elms closed the gap to 5-4 with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, but Becker responded with two of its own in the bottom of the inning and held on for the win.

Elms drops to 4-16 overall and 1-5 in New England Collegiate Conference play with the loss while Becker improves to 7-15 overall and 4-4 in the NECC.

Andy Vasquez went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs for the Blazers, while Jaeden Rasmus and Brandon Bennett also turned in two-hit performances. Elms finished with nine hits in the game but Becker racked up 12 and stranded five fewer baserunners (4) than Elms (9).

Becker starter Michael Iacovelli went six innings and gave up eight hits and one earned run in the win before Christopher Labou threw the final three, giving up two runs, one earned.

Bennett got the start for Elms and went four innings, giving up five runs, four of them earned. Kyle Powell pitched one inning without allowing a run before Mason Scott threw the final three for Elms, giving up two runs.

The Blazers host a pair of non-conference games against Union (N.Y.) on April 10 and Amherst on April 11 before opening a three-game NECC set with a double-header at Dean on April 14. The Bulldogs will visit Elms for the series finale on April 15.