Softball Sweeps Past Daniel Webster College

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College junior pitchers Beth Grimes (Terryville, Conn.) and Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.) struck out a combined 24 batters to help the Blazers stake a pair of 8-0 victories in Wednesday afternoon's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball action with Daniel Webster College at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

With the wins, Elms improves 9-11 overall, 7-5 in league action, while Daniel Webster moves to 0-10 on the season, 0-8 in NECC play.

Game One: Elms 8, Daniel Webster 0 (6 innings)

In game one, Grimes pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout over six innings with 14 strikeouts.

Elms scored twice in the second inning and five in the fourth to post a 7-0 lead before sophomore shortstop Gina DiGiovanni (Springfield, Mass.) scored the Blazers' eighth run of the game on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth frame.

DiGiovanni was 3 for 4 with two runs scored, while Grimes was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a run driven in. Sophomore catcher Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) was 2 for 4 with two RBI, freshman left fielder Kylen O'Hearn (Somers, Conn.) connected for two hits and senior designated player Hayley Zisk (Baldwinville, Mass.) drove in a pair of runs to highlight Elms' offensive efforts.

Elms' five-run fourth stanza was sparked by two-run singles to right field by Kierstan Skinner and Zisk, while senior third baseman Caitlee Carrier (Charlestown, Mass.) lifted a sacrifice fly to right.

Daniel Webster's Abigail Goslin (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) ripped an infield hit to leadoff the game which proved to be the Eagles' lone hit of the contest. Ashley England (Old Town, Maine) and Mollie Bartles (Torrington, Conn.) each drew a walk. Sarah Pelkey (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) suffered the loss in the circle.

Game Two: Elms 8, Daniel Webster 0 (5 innings)

Game two saw the Blazers cross the plate four times in the bottom of the first highlighted by an RBI base hit from Grimes, and a two-run single to right center field from freshman second baseman Meghan Shewchuk (Springfield, Mass.).

In the bottom of the third, Shewchuk reached first on an infield miscue and then advanced two bases before being forced out at home when senior right fielder Kellie McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) singled to right field. McLaughlin advanced to third on an outfield error and raced home following an overthrow from the catcher.

Elms notched three more runs junior center fielder Jennifer Bouvier (Mashpee, Mass.) cracked a two-run single up the middle, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and then scored on McLaughlin's RBI single to give the Blazers the 8-0 victory.

Colson was sharp through five innings of work in the circle fanning 10 batters and allowing just one hit by England in the top of the fifth frame.

Pelkey suffered the game two loss for the Eagles and issued one strikeout in 4.1 innings of work.

Elms returns to NECC action on Saturday, April 19 when it hosts Lesley University at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. at Cheryl R. Condon Field.