Softball Swept In Doubleheader At Worcester State

Box Scores

WORCESTER, Mass. – Elms College senior second baseman Ally Graffum (Ipswich, Mass.) went 1 for 2 with two RBI and a run scored in game two of the Blazers’ doubleheader with Worcester State College, but the Lancers were able to post a pair of victories (8-0, 13-5) in Saturday afternoon’s non-conference softball action at Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.

With the two losses, Elms falls to 1-10 overall, while Worcester State evens its record at 6-6.

Game One – Worcester State 8, Elms 0

Solid pitching from Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, Mass.) kept Elms’ bats at bay as she tossed four strikeouts and held the Blazers to just two hits.

The Lancers scored two runs in the bottom of the first, a run in the third and fourth, and four in the bottom of the sixth to post an 8-0 victory.

Erica Cordio (Leominster, Mass.) led the offensive charge going 3 for 4 with 3 RBI, a home run and two runs scored, while Mahoney helped her cause in the circle by cracking a round-tripper of her own.

Lauren Besozzi (Milford, Mass.) sent one deep to help pace Worcester State to 12 hits in the first contest.

Blazers’ sophomore hurler Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) pitched 3.2 innings and took the loss (0-4).

Game Two – Worcester State 13, Elms 5

After Worcester State built a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Elms responded with a five-run second frame. Blazers’ sophomore left fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, R.I.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning before senior catcher Tiffany Williams (Berlin, Conn.) drew a walk. Sophomore first baseman Alicia Campbell (Stoughton, Mass.) then reached on a fielder’s choice sending Williams to second and forcing DiRaimo out at third. Junior centerfielder Alison McBride (East Providence, R.I.) followed that with an infield single moving the runners up a base. Williams scored on the play thanks to a throwing error. Senior right fielder Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) then reached on a fielding error by the Lancers to load the bases, before Graffum belted a two-run single to center field two batters later. Junior designated player Destinee Meeker (Bantam, Conn.) followed that with a two-run base knock to left field giving Elms a 5-3 edge with two outs. From there, Worcester State starter Melissa Beaudry (Worcester, Mass.) forced a groundout to end the inning.

The Lancers stormed back with a five-run third stanza thanks to a grand slam from Besozzi, scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth, and tacked on four more in the bottom of the sixth to claim the 13-5 victory.

Besozzi went 3 for 4 at the plate in game two with six RBI, a double and two runs scored, while Cordio notched three hits including a pair of doubles with an RBI and a run scored. Alex Kerr (Franklin, Mass.) also strung together a trio of hits in the winning effort.

Marcy Rumrill (Orange, Mass.) pitched four innings of relief and earned the victory, her second of the season (2-0), striking out four batters in the process.

Elms’ junior starter Ani Ramsdell (Gardner, Mass.) suffered the loss and falls to 0-6 on the season.

Elms returns to non-conference action on Monday, March 29 when it travels to Smith College for a 4:30 p.m. contest.