Becker College Sweeps by Softball, 9-4 and 13-2

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore pitcher Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.) dealt 12 strikeouts in game one and senior designated player Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) was 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored in game two but the Blazers fell 9-4 and 13-2 (5 innings) to Becker College in Tuesday evening's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball double-header at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

With the losses, Elms moves to 5-12 on the season, 4-4 in NECC action, while Becker improves to 10-8 overall, 7-1 in NECC play.

Becker 9, Elms 4

Trailing 2-1 after two innings in the opening game, Becker exploded for four runs in the top of the third inning highlighted by an RBI single to left field by Megan Bolduc (Dover, N.H.), an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Victoria Horning (Riverview, Fla.) and a run-scoring single by Lauren Lavalle (Millbury, Mass.) to set the score at 5-2.

Elms responded in the bottom of the fourth as junior first baseman Ally Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.), who ripped a double to center and senior center fielder Leah Spring (South Hadley, Mass.) who reached on a fielder's choice, both scored on a two-run double to center by sophomore pinch-hitter Caitlee Carrier (Charlestown, Mass.) to pull the Blazers to within one at 5-4.

The Hawks pulled away with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and two in the seventh stanza to set the final score at 9-4.

Colson (1-5) allowed nine runs (six earned) on 12 hits in seven innings of work and fanned 12 batters. Becker pitcher Kelsey Norberg (Uxbridge, Mass.) issued six strikeouts and allowed four runs (two earned) on 10 hits in seven innings in the circle to improve to 6-4 overall.

Bolduc was 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored, while Lavalle drove in two runners in game one. Jessica Wheelahan (Watertown, Conn.), Talan Barron (Methuen, Mass.) and Megan Cordon (Watertown, Conn.) added two hits apiece.

Witaszek and junior left fielder Kellie McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) notched two hits each for the Blazers in the losing effort.

Becker 13, Elms 2 (5 innings)

In the second game of the twinbill, Becker pushed across four in the first and six in the third to ignite the 13-2 victory.

Wheelahan was 3 for 4 at the dish with four RBI, while Barron was 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles, three RBI and three runs scored. Norberg added two hits and drove in two runs, while Bolduc and Lavalle delivered two hits each for the Hawks in the winning effort.

Cordon improved to 4-4 in the circle dealing eight strikeouts in five frames of work. She allowed two runs on seven hits and was also effective at the plate with a pair of hits and two RBI.

Elms' sophomore starting pitcher Alyson Santerre (Thompson, Conn.) (0-4) allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits in two innings pitched.

Buckley was 3 for 3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI while Witaszek added two hits.

Elms is back in NECC action on Saturday, April 13 when it host Southern Vermont College for a double-header starting at 1:00 p.m. at Cheryl R. Condon Field.