Westfield State Rallies Past Softball, 8-5

Box Score  

Click here for photos from this game

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Elms College senior right fielder Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored, but Westfield State College used a three-run fourth and a two-run fifth to lift the Owls to an 8-5 victory over the Blazers in Thursday afternoon’s non-conference softball game at Alumni Field.

With the loss, Elms falls to 1-8 on the season, while Westfield State improves to 7-4 overall.

Trailing 3-1 heading into the top of the fourth, Elms exploded for four runs to post a 5-3 lead. Sophomore left fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, R.I.) poked a one-out single to left field and then advanced to second when senior catcher Tiffany Williams (Berlin, Conn.) drew a walk. Sophomore Amanda Alvarado (Springfield, Mass.) pinch ran for Williams and both runners advanced on a groundout by junior centerfielder Alison McBride (East Providence, R.I.), giving the Blazers two runners in scoring position. Lastowski knocked in the first run of the frame with a single through the left side of the infield. Sophomore shortstop Jenna Lipscomb (Cambridge, Mass.) followed with an RBI double to left, scoring both Alvarado and Lastowski on the play. Freshman designated player Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) then singled in Lipscomb to push the fourth of the inning across. Westfield State pitcher Ashtyn Welcome (Northfield, Mass.) induced a popup to stop the bleeding.

The Owls answered with a three-run bottom half of the stanza as Danielle Lutenegger (Sunderland, Mass.) belted a one-out triple and then came full circle on a base hit to left field by Kerin DeGirolamo (North Attleboro, Mass.). Two batters later, Kim Brennan (Douglas, Mass.) placed a two-out, two-run single down the right field line, giving Westfield State a 6-5 edge.

The Owls added to their lead an inning later when Kristyn Carroll (Brockton, Mass.) drove in Brianna Isaacs (Yarmouthport, Mass.) with a triple. Carroll then scored on a one-out groundout by Lutenegger, giving Westfield State an 8-5 lead.

Westfield State pitcher Courtney Begin (Salem, Mass.) tossed three innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit en route to earning the save. Welcome hurled the first four frames to earn the win, her first of the season.

Elms’ junior right-hander Ani Ramsdell (Gardner, Mass.) suffered the loss and moves to 0-5 on the season.

Elms posted a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Westfield State plated a pair of runs in the second and another in the third to stake a 3-1 lead, setting up the Blazers four-run rally in the top of the fourth frame.

Elms was held to just six hits, as Buckley finished 2 for 3 with an RBI, while Lipscomb and DiRaimo each went 1 for 3 with a run scored in the contest. Williams notched a pair of walks in the losing effort.

DeGirolamo, Brennan, Isaacs and Lutenegger each recorded two hits in the game, while Brennan and Cassy Jouannet (Conway, Mass.) drove in two runs each.

Elms returns to action on Saturday, March 27 for doubleheader action against Worcester State College. First-pitch of game one is slated for 12:00 p.m. at Holy Cross.