Softball Sweeps by Regis College, 3-0 and 9-1

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College junior second baseman Ali Bonavita (Agawam, Mass.) was a combined 5 for 6 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored and senior pitcher Courtney Hampton (Westfield, Mass.) recorded a pair of wins in the circle to help propel the Blazers to a double-header sweep of Regis College in Saturday afternoon's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball action at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

With the sweep, Elms improves to 14-17 overall, 10-8 in NECC action while Regis moves to 8-23 overall, 8-10 in league play. The teams will now await the tournament pairings that will be announced by the conference office later this weekend.

Elms 3, Regis 0

Elms got to work early in the bottom of the first as senior right fielder Jennifer Killion (Cambridge, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice and then scored on a double to center field by Bonavita to give the Blazers a 1-0 lead.

Elms added to its advantage in the bottom of the second when sophomore first baseman Ally Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) singled and later scored on a run-scoring single by freshman left fielder Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, Mass.) to lift the lead to 2-0.

After a scoreless third and fourth innings, Bonavita drove in Killion again, this time with a single to left field to set the score to 3-0.

Hampton scattered just five hits, including two to Regis' Samantha Bliss (Framingham, Mass.), while striking out three batters to secure the win and move to 9-9 overall. The Pride's starting pitcher Emily Pickett (Wrentham, Mass.) suffered the loss in the circle.

Flaherty, junior catcher Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) and senior shortstop Amanda Alvarado (Springfield, Mass.) each had two hits in the win.

Elms 9, Regis 1 (6 innings.)

In game two, Elms used a six-run first inning, highlighted by RBI doubles from Bonavita and sophomore third baseman Hayley Zisk (Baldwinville, Mass.), an RBI single by Buckley, and three Regis miscues to take a 6-0 lead.

After the Pride's Katie Blackburn (Milford, Mass.) scored on an Elms error in the top of the second, the Blazers responded with a run of their own in the home half of the frame on an RBI two-bagger by Buckley that scored Bonavita to set the score at 7-1.

Elms completed the victory and the sweep with two in the bottom of the sixth frame when Witaszek connected for an RBI sacrifice bunt to score pinch-runner Katie Cruz (Shrewsbury, Mass.), while Flaherty singled in Alvarado with the mercy-rule walk-off run on a base knock to center field to give the Blazers a 9-1 win.

Buckley drove in two runs on a 2 for 3 effort at the plate in game two, while Bonavita and Alvarado added two hits apiece in the winning effort.

Hampton continued to control the game on the mound, allowing just three hits and one unearned run while dishing out four strikeouts to move to 10-9 in the circle.

Sarah Porteus (South Wellfleet, Mass.) suffered the loss for Regis in the circle.