Softball Bombards Becker In Doubleheader

SOFTBALL BOMBARDS BECKER IN NECC DOUBLEHEADER

Box scores

CHICOPEE, MA, April 4, 2009 - Elms College senior shortstop Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, MA) and freshman third baseman Kelly Callahan (Monson, MA) each went 4 for 6 and combined for nine RBI and five runs scored to power the Blazers to a pair of five-inning, mercy-rule victories - 10-0 and 15-4 - over Becker College in Saturday's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball doubleheader at Condon Field.

Elms College won for the third time in four games to improve to 5-9 overall, 3-1 NECC. Becker remained winless at 0-11, 0-4 NECC.

The Blazers wasted little time in taking command, as they plated all 10 of their runs in the first inning of game one.

With the Blazers leading 1-0 and one-out, Callahan belted a two-run double to right center field.  Freshman right fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, RI) followed with a RBI single to extend Elms College's lead to 4-0.

Later in the inning, junior left fielder Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, MA) drew a two-out, RBI walk and junior second baseman Ally Graffum (Ipswich, MA) followed with a three-run double, and following a walk by sophomore center fielder Alison McBride (East Providence, RI), Bowden singled through the right side to plate Graffum and McBride and cap off the Blazers' 10-run outburst.

From there, sophomore pitcher Ani Ramsdell (Gardner, MA) did the rest, as she fired a complete-game, one-hit shutout to earn her second win of the year.

In game two, the Blazers picked up right where they left off, scoring six times in the first and four more times in the third to race out to a commanding 10-0 lead.

Callahan delivered her second two-run double of the twinbill, while McBride and sophomore first baseman Destinee Meeker (Bantam, CT) each delivered RBI singles to help bolster the Blazers' first inning.

In the third, the Hawks got two quick outs in the frame before Meeker recorded an infield single. Freshman left fielder Kaylyn Conroy (Pittsfield, MA) followed with a single down the right field line and Graffum then cranked a RBI double to center.

McBride then delivered the dagger with a two-run single to left center field that pushed the Blazers' lead to an insurmountable 10-0.

Becker plated four runs on five hits in the top of the fourth, but the Blazers answered with a five-run home half of the frame en route to the twinbill sweep via five-inning, mercy-rule.

Meeker, Bowden, Callahan and junior right fielder Danielle Gero (Holyoke, MA) all had RBI singles in the Blazers' half of the fourth.

Sophomore shortstop Rachel Weidele (Worcester, MA) went 2 for 3, including a two-run double in the fourth, while freshman pitcher Kristin Cammuso (Rutland, MA) and junior catcher Shannon Tibbetts (Warren, MA) each had RBI hits in the Hawks' four-run inning.

Elms College freshman pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, MA) threw a complete-game, eight-hitter that included nine strikeouts to earn her second collegiate win.

The Blazers return to NECC play with a doubleheader at Mitchell on Sunday, April 5. Game one is slated for 12:00 p.m.