Softball Blasts Bay Path In NECC Doubleheader
SOFTBALL BLASTS BAY PATH IN NECC DOUBLEHEADER
CHICOPEE, MA, April 18, 2009 - Elms College freshman third baseman Kelly Callahan (Monson, MA) went a perfect 4 for 4 with four RBI and three runs scored in game one, and freshman pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, MA) threw a complete-game, three-hitter in the second game to lead the Blazers to convincing 19-2 and 6-1 victories over Bay Path College in Saturday's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) doubleheader at Condon Field.
Bay Path, which began the day tied atop the NECC, dipped to 15-14 overall and fell to fourth place in the conference standings at 7-3.
Elms College (13-11, 10-2 NECC) won for the 10th time in 12 games and moved into second place in the NECC.
In the second inning of game one, Callahan hit a RBI single to plate Hampton and give the Blazers a quick 1-0 lead.
The floodgates opened from there, as the Blazers plated eight more runs in the second and nine more in the third to put the game well out of reach. In those two innings, the Wildcats committed seven errors.
Callahan also added a two-run single in the second then belted a RBI single in the third inning for her third RBI hit of the game.
Sophomore center fielder Alison McBride (East Providence, RI) smacked two-run singles in both the second and third innings, and also added a RBI groundout to finish 2 for 4 with five RBI in the victory.
Elms College sophomore pitcher Ani Ramsdell (Gardner, MA) allowed just one earned run and struck out three to run her record to 6-7.
Bay Path junior hurler Kristal Cormier (Rochester, NH) was issued the tough-luck loss, as she allowed eight earned runs.
In the nightcap, Hampton cruised, as she yielded just one earned run, struck out nine and scattered just three hits to improve to 6-4 on the season.
Senior third baseman Sarah Palmer (Topsham, ME) cranked a RBI triple in the third to break a scoreless tie.
In the fourth, freshman left fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, RI) tied the game on her RBI sacrifice fly and Hampton came around to score on an infield error to give the Blazers a 2-1 lead.
Elms College then put the game away with a three-run, fifth that included senior shortstop Kerrie Bowden's (Chicopee, MA) two-run, triple and Hampton's RBI sacrifice bunt. Junior catcher Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, MA) completed the scoring with a RBI single in the sixth.
Bay Path junior pitcher Jess Nizinski (West Springfield, MA) was victimized by four Wildcat errors, as she was issued the loss despit allowing just one earned run in the complete-game effort.
Elms College returns to NECC doubleheader action at Wheelock on Sunday, April 19. Game one is set for 1:00 p.m.