Witaszek Scores Game-Winning Run in the Seventh, Softball Tops Anna Maria College, 4-3

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore first baseman Ally Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) picked up an infield single and then scored from first on a misplay by Anna Maria College in the bottom of the seventh to break a 3-3 tie and give the Blazers a 4-3 victory over the AMCATS in Tuesday afternoon's non-conference softball game at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

With the win, Elms improves to 8-11 on the season, while Anna Maria falls to 0-25 overall.

Anna Maria drew first blood scoring a pair in the top of the first when Elizabeth Clark (Dover, N.H.) drove in Tabitha Ruggeri (Sturbridge, Mass.) with an RBI fielder's choice. Clark then scored on a fielding error by Elms to give the AMCATS a 2-0 cushion.

Elms answered in the home half of the first when senior right fielder Jennifer Killion (Cambridge, Mass.) singled up the middle, stole second and then scored on an RBI double by junior second baseman Ali Bonavita (Agawam, Mass.) to cut the deficit to 2-1.

After a scoreless second frame for both sides, Anna Maria added to its lead when Justine Lalonde (Shirley, N.Y.), who led off the inning with a base hit, scored when Lauren Kiritsy (Worcester, Mass.) reached on a Blazers' miscue to give the AMCATS a 3-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the third Bonavita again drove in Killion with a run-scoring two-bagger to pull Elms to within one at 3-2, and the Blazers tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when junior catcher Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) doubled and then crossed the dish on a triple by sophomore third baseman Hayley Zisk (Baldwinville, Mass.) to set the score at 3-3.

The AMCATS strung together three consecutive singles with two outs in the top of the seventh to load the bases, but Elms' senior pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) induced an inning-ending groundout to keep the game at a 3-3 deadlock.

In the bottom of the seventh, Witaszek reached on an infield single and then scampered home on an infield misfire to give the Blazers a dramatic 4-3 victory.

Killion, Bonavita and Witaszek each went 2 for 3 at the plate, while Hampton (4-5) issued eight strikeouts to seal the win.

Mary Moroski (Worcester, Mass.) connected for four of Anna Maria's nine hits, while Nichole Lowe (Saugus, Mass.) was stellar in the circle despite the loss, tallying five strikeouts.

Elms returns to conference play on Saturday, April 14 when it hosts Daniel Webster College beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Cheryl R. Condon Field.