Softball Takes Two From Becker College

LEICESTER, Mass. - Elms College senior pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) dominated in the circle in both games as the Blazers swept Becker College with wins of 5-0 and 8-2 in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball action on Saturday afternoon at Russell Field.

With the wins, Elms is now 12-15 overall, 8-6 in NECC action while Becker falls to 10-23 on the season, 7-6 in conference action.

In the first game, Hampton (8-7) allowed only four hits and no walks in seven innings while striking out four. Elms' freshman outfielder Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, Mass.) did the most damage at the plate, going 2 for 4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Junior catcher Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.), sophomore designated player Caitlee Carrier (Charlestown, Mass.) and junior center fielder Leah Spring (South Hadley, Mass.) each had an RBI, with Buckley and Carrier both crossing home plate for runs. Sophomore third baseman Hayley Zisk (Baldwinville, Mass.) went 2 for 2 with two walks, while sophomore first baseman Ally Witaszek (Agawam, Mass.) finished 2 for 4.

Pitching for the Hawks, Megan Cordon (Watertown, Conn.) (5-11) struck out six Blazers in seven innings while surrendering three earned runs. Cordon, Shawna Drown (Watertown, Tenn.), Kaitlyn Kenney (Woodstock, Conn.) and Whitney Buck (Old Town, Maine) accounted for Becker's four hits.

Game two saw Elms jump out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first only to watch Becker take advantage of a pair of miscues by the Blazers to tie the game in bottom of the second, with Kenney stealing home and Lauren Lavalle (Millbury, Mass.) scoring from third on a passed ball. But Elms would add six more runs including four in the top of the fourth to take a commanding lead. Hampton allowed only four hits and no earned runs in once again going the distance. Flaherty again proved a tough out for Becker, as she went 3 for 4 with an RBI and three runs. Buckley was 2 for 4 with two RBI and a double. Senior right fielder Jennifer Killion (Cambridge, Mass.) had two hits and two runs with an RBI, while Spring knocked in a run on her only hit of the day.

Becker's Melissa Rhodes (Mendon, Mass.) (2-9) pitched five innings and gave up just one earned run before Cordon came in in relief, striking out three Blazers in two innings. Rhodes, Kenney, Cordon and Drown each finished with a hit. Errors proved fatal to the Hawks, as the hosts gave up six unearned runs.

Elms' scheduled softball double-header at Bay Path College on Sunday, April 22 has been postponed due to inclement weather. A makeup date is yet to be determined.