Softball Sweeps Eastern Nazarene, North Park

SOFTBALL SWEEPS EASTERN NAZARENE, NORTH PARK
AT GENE CUSIC CLASSIC

FORT MYERS, FL, March 10, 2009 - Elms College sophomore pitcher Ani Ramsdell (Gardner, MA) and freshman pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, MA) each threw complete games and the Blazers pounded out a combined 26 hits en route to a 15-3 win over Eastern Nazarene and 8-0 victory over North Park in non-conference softball action at the Gene Cusic Classic on Tuesday.

After having scored just seven runs of their first four games, the Blazers (2-4) erupted for 15 runs on 13 hits en route to the five-inning, mercy-rule win over Eastern Nazarene.

In that victory, Hampton went 3 for 4, while junior outfielder Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, MA) went 2 for 2 with two walks and a pair of RBI. Elms College led 3-0 after two innings then exploded for eight runs in the third and four more in the fourth.

Ramsdell allowed three runs on five hits, while striking out five and issuing just one walk to post her first win of the year.

Against North Park, the Blazers plated three runs in the second, one in the third, then put the game away with a four-run, sixth-inning.

Lastowski, senior shortstop Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, MA), freshman first baseman Kelly Callahan (Monson, MA) all had two hits apiece, while Hampton fired a complete-game, six-hit shutout that included six strikeouts and three walks for her first collegiate victory.

Elms College concludes play at the Cusic Classic on Wednesday, March 11 against Bowdoin (9:00 a.m.) and St. Mary's (IN) (11:00 a.m.)