Softball Tops Southern Vermont College, 9-0 and 1-0

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College freshman shortstop Taylor Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) was 2 for 2 with three RBI in game one, and freshman pitcher Jamie Miner (Chicopee, Mass.) scattered four hits and struck out six batters in a complete-game effort in game two to help the Blazers post wins of 9-0 (5 innings) and 1-0 in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball action versus Southern Vermont College at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

With the sweep, Elms improves to 7-12 overall, 6-4 in conference play, while Southern Vermont moves to 3-14 on the season, 2-6 in league action.

Elms 9, Southern Vermont 0

In the opening game, Elms' sophomore pitcher Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.) was tremendous allowing just two hits and striking out five batters in a five-inning complete-game victory to improve to 2-5 on the season in the circle.

Colson struck out the side in the first, third and fifth innings and in the top of the fourth, got out of a runners on second and third jam when she struck out two consecutive batters to keep the Mountaineers off the board.

Elms took a 2-0 lead on a two-run single to right field by Taylor Skinner in the bottom of the second and broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth scoring seven runs on seven hits and a Southern Vermont error to stake a 9-0 lead. Taylor Skinner added a run-scoring single in the inning, while junior first baseman Ally Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) also drove in a run on a base hit. Senior third baseman Rachel Butt (Agawam, Mass.) cracked a two-run double to right center and senior catcher Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) followed with a two-run single to right to highlight the rally for Elms.

Emily Fleming (Ganesvoort, N.Y.) suffered the loss for Southern Vermont moving to 1-8 on the season. She struck out three in four innings and allowed nine runs (four earned) on eight hits.

Erika Garay (Walnut, Calif.) and Meagan Fleming (Ganesvoort, N.Y.) had the Mountaineers' two hits in the contest.

Buckley was 2 for 3 with a two RBI, while Butt also drove in a pair for the Blazers.

Elms 1, Southern Vermont 0

In game two, Elms scored a run in the bottom of the first inning when senior center fielder Leah Spring (South Hadley, Mass.) singled up the middle, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior second baseman Alexandra Bonavita (Agawam, Mass.), advanced to third on a bunt single to the right side by Butt and then scored when freshman right fielder Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) poked an RBI base hit through the left side of the infield.

Miner and Mountaineers' pitcher Hayley McDonald (Latham, N.Y.) were effective in the circle as Miner allowed just four hits, while McDonald allowed six.

Miner also fielded her position well, inducing three consecutive groundouts to the pitcher in a 1-2-3 second frame.

In the top of the third inning, Southern Vermont threatened when Vanessa Ruelas (Paramount, Calif.) connected for a one-out single up the middle and then advanced to second a wild pitch. With two outs in the stanza Miner forced Garay to hit a shallow popup to center field but Spring made a diving catch for the final out of the inning and kept Elms' one-run lead intact.

Vanessa Ruelas was 2 for 3 for the Mountaineers at the plate, McDonald (2-6) suffered the loss in the circle.

Butt was 2 for 3 at the dish in the winning effort for Elms.

The Blazers return to NECC action at Regis College at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14 in Weston, Mass.