Softball Downs Westfield State University, 2-1

Box Score

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College junior pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) pitched a complete-game and the Blazers scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to help secure a 2-1 victory over Westfield State University in Thursday afternoon's non-conference softball game at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

With its first win over Westfield State since 2006, Elms improves to 5-6 on the season while the Owls move to 6-5 overall.

With the score set at 0-0 in the bottom of the second, Elms' sophomore catcher Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) belted a single to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a one-out base hit by freshman designated player Hayley Zisk (Baldwinville, Mass.) two batters later. Westfield State hurler Ashtyn Welcome (Northfield, Mass.) tossed a strikeout to give the Owls two outs in the inning but a run-scoring single by junior left fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, R.I.) allowed Buckley to cross home with the Blazers' first run of the contest. Hampton followed suit with an RBI single scoring Zisk from second to give Elms a 2-0 cushion.

The Owls answered in the top of the third frame when Courtney Begin (Salem, Mass.) singled and then sprinted all the way home when Alicia Gardner (Athol, Mass.) reached on a two-out error in the outfield, cutting Westfield State's deficit to 2-1.

Elms threatened in the bottom half of the third, loading the bases with two outs, but a groundout to second base ended the inning.

In the Westfield State fourth inning, three one-out singles packed the bases for the Owls before Blazers' sophomore third baseman Rachel Butt (Agawam, Mass.) snagged a pop up and touched third for an unassisted double play to retire the side.

Westfield State put two runners in scoring position in the fifth inning but could not plate the equalizer as Hampton fired four shutout innings en route to her third victory of the season to improve to 3-3 overall.

Welcome, who also pitched well, suffered the loss and moves to 0-2 despite allowing just four hits and striking out six batters.

Brianna Isaacs (Yarmouth, Mass.) and Begin each finished 2 for 3 at the dish in the losing effort for Westfield State.

Elms returns to non-conference action on Saturday, March 26 when it hosts Worcester State University for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Cheryl R. Condon Field.