Softball Sinks Mitchell In NECC Doubleheader
SOFTBALL SINKS MITCHELL IN NECC DOUBLEHEADER
NEW LONDON, CT, April 5, 2009 - Sophomore designated player Destiny Meeker (Bantam, CT) cranked a clutch two-run home run in the sixth inning of game one and senior shortstop Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, MA) plated the game-winning run on a fielder's choice in the nightcap to send Elms College to a sweep over Mitchell College in Sunday's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball doubleheader at New London.
The Blazers (7-9, 5-1 NECC) swept their second conference doubleheader in as many days, while the Mariners lost their third straight game and fell to 6-11-1 overall, 3-2-1 NECC.
In game one, Mitchell raced out to a 4-0 first inning lead and held the four-run advantage into the fifth, when freshman first baseman Courtney Hampton (Westfield, MA) delivered a RBI single and junior left fielder Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, MA) followed with a RBI single to cut the Mariners' lead in half.
The Blazers then erupted for a five-run, fifth inning - highlighted by junior catcher Tiffany Williams' (Berlin, CT) clutch RBI double and Meeker's first collegiate home run - to grab a 7-4 lead.
Bowden then plated an insurance run on a Mitchell error in the
seventh - a run that proved crucial - as the Mariners scored twice
in the home half of the seventh, but fell short in their rally.
In the nightcap, the Blazers scored four runs over the first two innings to race out to a 4-0 lead, including a three-run, second inning.
In that frame, Meeker belted a two-run double and junior second baseman Ally Graffum (Ipswich, MA) followed two batters later and added a RBI double.
The Mariners tallied twice in both the third and fourth innings to knot the game at 4-4.
Bowden had a RBI double in the top of the fifth to help the Blazers reclaim the lead 5-4.
Mitchell responded with a run of its own to tie the game at 5-5. The game then remained tied until Bowden scored in the eighth to help the Blazers secure the sweep.
Hampton, Bowden and sophomore center fielder Alison McBride (East Providence, RI) all finished 3 for 8 for the Blazers, who moved into sole possession of third place in the NECC standings.
Elms College returns to action on Friday, April 10 in a doubleheader against Skidmore.