Softball Sweeps By Bay Path College In NECC Opening Doubleheader

Box Score

LONGMEADOW, Mass. – Elms College sophomore shortstop Jenna Lipscomb (Cambridge, Mass.) went 3 for 4 with two RBI in game one, and freshman first baseman Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) was 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored in game two to help lift the Blazers to a sweep of Bay Path College in Tuesday evening’s New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball doubleheader in Longmeadow, Mass.

With the win, Elms has now won three of its last four games to improve to 4-11 overall, 2-0 in NECC action. Bay Path moves to 9-9 on the season, 0-2 in league action.

Game One – Elms 6, Bay Path 1

In the opening contest of the doubleheader, Elms got its offense in motion early as Buckley delivered a one-out two-run single up the middle, scoring senior outfielder Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) and Lipscomb  who reached via walk and base hit to start the first inning and take a 2-0 lead.

The Blazers doubled their lead in the top of the second when junior designated player Destinee Meeker (Bantam, Conn.) earned a two-out free pass and then advanced to third when Lastowski reached on a two-base fielding error. The miscue set up Lipscomb who smashed a double down the left field line, plating both runs and giving Elms a 4-0 advantage.

Bay Path got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Jessica Priestly (Middleboro, Mass.), but Elms pushed across a run in both the top of the fifth and seventh innings. Senior second baseman Ally Graffum (Ipswich, Mass.) doubled in Buckley in the fifth frame, before sophomore third baseman Kelly Callahan (Monson, Mass.) plated Lastowski with a sacrifice fly in the Elms seventh to stake a 6-1 lead.

Sophomore pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) was fantastic in the circle for the Blazers, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out seven Wildcats en route to her second win of the season (2-4).

Buckley and Graffum finished with two hits each, while Lastowski crossed the dish three times in the win.

Game Two – Elms 12, Bay Path 1 (5 innings)

The second game of the twinbill saw Elms plate three runs in the top of the first thanks to an RBI single by Buckley, a run-scoring base hit from sophomore left fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, R.I.) and a Bay Path passed ball that allowed Buckley to trot home.

The Blazers took a 5-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Lipscomb singled to left and then advanced to third when Graffum reached on a two-base fielding error by the Wildcats on a bunt attempt. Buckley took advantage of the runners in scoring position and roped a two-bagger to left, scoring both Lipscomb and Graffum.

Bay Path answered with a run in the home half of the third when Ashley Provost (Ludlow, Mass.) connected for a two-out triple and then scored on a Blazers’ throwing error to bring the score to 5-1.

Elms got the run back in the top of the fourth and then exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth inning. DiRaimo drove in a run on an infield miscue, freshman designated player Rachel Butt (Agawam, Mass.) and Lastowski hit RBI singles, senior catcher Tiffany Williams (Berlin, Conn.) drew a run-scoring walk, and Graffum plated a run on a fielder’s choice to highlight the six-run inning.

Hampton, who surrendered just one run on two hits in the second game, retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth to give the Blazers a 12-1 mercy-rule victory and improve to 3-4 on the season.

Callahan finished with two hits in the second game, while Buckley and Lipscomb each scored twice.

Elms returns to NECC action on Saturday, April 10 for a doubleheader with Daniel Webster College. First pitch of game one is set for 2:00 p.m. at Cheryl R. Condon Field.