Softball Falls to Northland, Milwaukee School of Engineering in 2015 Opener
| BOT 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Milwaukee Engr. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
|
Elms | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Elms | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
|
Northland | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 8 | 1 |
Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Elms College softball squad dropped two games of the Blazers season-opening doubleheader at Century Link Sports Complex Saturday morning. Elms fell to Northland, 5-4, and then dropped a 3-1 extra-inning tilt to Milwaukee School of Engineering.
The Lumberjacks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame on an RBI single from junior Allison Dunn (Mira Loma, Calif.). Northland pulled away in the second, plating four runs in the inning. Freshman Alecea Piper (Jacksonville, Fla.) scored the first run on an RBI single, followed by an RBI singles from junior Kaitlyn Witthun (Cambria, Wis.) and sophomore Crystal Diaz (Burbank, Calif.), and an RBI double from senior Carolyn Malecha (Henderson, Minn.), to grab a 5-0 lead.
Elms trimmed the Lumberjacks advantage to 5-2 in the third behind RBI doubles from junior Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) and sophomore Kacey Gifford (Suffield, Conn.). The Blazers mounted a final comeback attempt in the fifth as Gifford knocked in Skinner on an RBI single, followed by an RBI double from senior Beth Grimes (Terryville, Conn.).
Diaz (1-0) earned the win for Northland, allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Senior Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.) took the loss in six innings of work, surrendering five runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts.
In game two against Milwaukee School of Engineering, the Raiders grabbed a 1-0 lead as freshman Laryn Brinkman (Fort Campbell, Ky.) doubled to right-centerfield. Elms knotted the game at 1-1 in fourth on a sacrifice fly from Grimes, plating senior Rachel Beery (Springfield, Mass.). The game went to extra innings all square at 1-1.
In the eighth, the Raiders scored a pair of runs on RBI singles from freshman Gabbi Garcia (Poulsbo, Wash.) and junior Beth Young (Oak Creek, Wis.) to grab a 3-1 lead. The Blazers were unable to bring any runners around in the bottom of the frame, giving MSOE the 3-1 win.
Grimes delivered a complete game effort, allowing three runs, two earned, in eight innings with five strikeouts. Raiders sophomore Callie Wightman (Flint, Mich.) earned the win in relief with 2.1 scoreless innings of work.
The Blazers open the 2015 season with a 0-2 mark, while Northland improved to 1-8, and MSOE moved to 4-4 on the season. Elms returns to action with a pair of games Sunday afternoon, facing Wooster at 9:00 a.m. followed by a tilt with Olivet College at 1:00 p.m.
ELMS SOFTBALL
