Softball Falls at Becker College, 2-0 and 1-0

LEICESTER, Mass. – Elms College junior pitchers Beth Grimes (Terryville, Conn.) and Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.) scattered a combined six hits and struck out 15 batters, but Becker College was able to stake a 2-0 victory in game one and a 1-0 win in game two in Sunday afternoon's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball double header in Leicester, Mass.

With the losses, Elms moves to 3-9 on the season, 1-3 in NECC action, while Becker improves to 3-11 overall 2-0 in league play.

Game One: Becker 2, Elms 0 

In game one, Grimes allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits in six innings of work and fanned eight batters in the losing effort to move to 2-3 on the season.

Becker's Kelsey Norberg (Uxbridge, Mass.) was equally impressive in the circle tossing seven strikeouts and allowing just two hits in seven innings to improve to 2-6 overall.

Blazers' junior shortstop Gina DiGiovanni (Springfield, Mass.) and senior third baseman Caitlee Carrier (Charlestown, Mass.) each registered a hit, while sophomore Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Mass.) and DiGiovanni each stole a base in game one.

Jaclyn Orangio (Maynard, Mass.) was 2 for 3 with a run scored for Becker, while Megan Bolduc (Dover, N.H.) and Marlena Karavolis (McMurray, Pa.) each had an RBI for the Hawks.

Karavolis' run-scoring single plated pinch-run Lauren Zaleski (Avon, Mass.) with what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the second, while Bolduc cracked an RBI double scoring Orangio in the bottom of the third to cap the 2-0 victory.

Game Two: Becker 1, Elms 0

In game two, Colson continued the impressive display in the circle allowing just one unearned run on two hits in six innings of work. She fanned seven batters and walked just two batters as Becker scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the first stanza.

Kierstan Skinner was 2 for 4 at the plate, while senior third baseman Hayley Zisk (Baldwinville, Mass.), Grimes and senior left fielder Kellie McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) notched a hit each in the losing effort.

Lauren Lavalle (Millbury, Mass.) led off the Hawks' first frame with a walk and later came around to score what stood as the game-winning run on a passed ball. She and Jessica Wheelahan (Watertown, Conn.) registered Becker's only hits in the contest.

Norberg issued eight strikeouts in game two and scattered five hits in the seven-inning shutout victory to improve to 3-6 in the circle.

Elms returns to non-league play on Tuesday, April 8 when it travels to Trinity College (Conn.) at 4:00 p.m.