Early Surge Lifts Softball Past Smith College, 5-1

Box Score

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College senior pitcher Destinee Meeker (Bantam, Conn.) tossed four strikeouts and allowed just three hits, while junior shortstop Jenna Lipscomb (Cambridge, Mass.) scored two runs to help lift the Blazers to a 5-1 victory over Smith College in Monday afternoon's non-conference softball game at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

With the win Elms improves to 6-8 overall, while Smith slides to 1-14 on the season.

Elms got to work early scoring twice in the bottom of the first when senior right fielder Alison McBride (East Providence, R.I.) and Lipscomb earned back-to-back walks to lead off the inning and then moved into scoring position on a groundout. McBride then scored on a wild pitch and Lipscomb advanced to third before sophomore catcher Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) cracked an RBI single into right field to give Elms a 2-0 lead.

The Blazers added two more runs in the bottom of the second as junior left fielder Marlene DiRaimo (Cranston, R.I.) doubled to start the inning and later scored on an infield miscue by Smith. Freshman first baseman Allyson Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) connected for a single in the inning and eventually came full circle, scoring on a passed ball to set the score at 4-0.

Meeker carried a perfect game into the fourth inning before Catherine Tocci (Belmont, Mass.) drilled a one-out base hit through the left side to give the Pioneers their first base runner of the game. Tocci then hustled all the way home on a double to left center off the bat of Tessa Clark (Calais, Maine) to give Smith their only run of the contest and set the score to 4-1.

Elms added its fifth tally in the bottom of the fourth when Lipscomb scored her second run of the game, this time on an errant pitch, to give the Blazers a 5-1 cushion.

Smith starting pitcher Kayla Kiers (West Warwick, R.I.) pitched just two innings and suffered the loss, giving up four runs on four hits to move to 1-7 on the season. Clark then moved from shortstop to the circle and pitched the final four frames, allowing just one run on one hit and tossing two strikeouts.

Lipscomb, Buckley, DiRaimo, Witaszek and sophomore third baseman Rachel Butt (Agawam, Mass.) accounted for all five of Elms' hits with one apiece, while McBride and Buckley added an RBI each.

Elms returns to non-conference action on March 31 when it travels to Paxton, Mass. for a showdown with Anna Maria College. First-pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m.