Five-Run Third Inning Lifts Softball To 6-3 Victory Over Smith College

Box Score

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Elms College sophomore third baseman Kelly Callahan (Monson, Mass.) delivered a two-run single to spark a five-run third inning and finished 2 for 3 at the dish to help lift the Blazers to a 6-3 win over Smith College in Tuesday afternoon's non-conference softball game in Northampton, Mass.

With the win, Elms improves to 9-12 overall, while Smith falls to 2-26 on the season.

Tied 1-1 heading to the top of the third inning, Elms exploded for five runs when sophomore shortstop Jenna Lipscomb (Cambridge, Mass.) connected for a one-out single and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Senior second baseman Ally Graffum (Ipswich, Mass.) then reached on an infield miscue before freshman designated player Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) cracked an RBI single to right field. Sophomore left fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, R.I.) added a base hit and sophomore first baseman Alicia Campbell (Stockbridge, Mass.) reached on an RBI fielder's choice to give the Blazers a 2-0 lead and the bases juiced.

Blazers junior center fielder Alison McBride (East Providence, R.I.) then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Elms' third run of the frame to the plate. Callahan then smacked her two-run single to lift the lead to 6-1, sending Smith starting pitcher Abagael Shrader (Tiffin, Iowa) from the contest in favor of Tessa Clark (Calais, Maine). Callahan was able to get to third thanks to a passed ball, but a strikeout ended the inning.

Clark held Elms scoreless for the duration of the game, and the Pioneers plated a run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI base hit by Kirstie Beaton (Osterville, Mass.), and then again in the home half of the seventh a two-run two-bagger by Megan Kiefer (Oak Park, Ill.), but could get no closer than 6-3.

Elms sophomore pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) tossed a complete game, fanning four batters and limiting Smith to just seven hits to improve to 6-5 overall.

Shrader lasted just 2.2 innings and suffers the loss. Clark allowed just one hit in 4.1 innings of relief in the circle and struck out two batters.

Graffum was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, as the top six hitters in the Elms batting order each scored a run in the winning effort.

Kiefer led Smith at the dish going 3 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Beaton notched two hits in the losing effort.

Elms returns to non-conference action on Thursday, April 22 when it travels to Springfield, Mass. to take on Western New England College (WNEC) at 4:00 p.m.