Softball Outlasted By Westfield State, 8-3
SOFTBALL OUTLASTED BY WESTFIELD STATE, 8-3
CHICOPEE, MA, March 26, 2009 - Westfield State senior first baseman Katie Gorman (Feeding Hills, MA) went 3 for 4 with two RBI, sophomore second baseman Kristyn Carroll (Brockton, MA) went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and the Owls used a clutch two-run, fifth-inning to pull away to an 8-3 win over Elms College in Thursday's non-conference softball game at Condon Field.
Westfield State extended its win streak to five straight to improve to 6-3, while Elms College lost its second straight and fell to 2-7.
The Owls plated two runs in the first, two more in the third and one in the fourth to grab a 5-0 lead midway through the game.
The Blazers, however, answered with three-runs in the home half of the fourth - all unearned - including a clutch two-run single up the middle by junior left fielder Kim Lastowski (Turners, Falls, MA).
Elms College then had runners at second and third following a passed ball with two outs, but could not capitalize, as Westfield State senior pitcher Chelsea Sylvia (South Dartmouth, MA) forced a popout to escape the inning.
From there, Carroll delivered a crucial two-run single down the right field line to plate junior designated player Allison Allen (Peabody, MA) and Gorman with insurance runs for the Owls.
Sylvia was solid for the Owls, as she scattered seven hits, struck out nine and allowed no earned runs in the complete-game effort en route to her fifth win in six starts.
Lastowski finished 2 for 4 with two RBI and senior shortstop Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, MA) went 3 for 4 for the Blazers in the loss.
Elms College opens New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) play at Daniel Webster on Saturday, March 28. Game one of the scheduled doubleheader is 12:00 p.m. Westfield State returns to non-conference play when it hosts WNEC on Friday, March 27. Game time is 4:00 p.m.