Softball Walks Off With Doubleheader Sweep of Newbury

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

BOSTON, Mass. – The Elms College softball team rebounded the right way, collecting a pair of victories in a New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader over Newbury College in the Blazers Saturday evening at Rotch Field. Elms rallied to take the opener 14-9, followed by a 6-5 extra-inning win in the nightcap.

In game one, the Nighthawks struck first behind an RBI single from Olivia Kenyon (Canton, Mass.) in the top of the first. The Blazers battled back in the bottom of the frame as freshman Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) laced a two-run double to centerfield. Olszewski came around to score on an RBI single from senior Bethany Grimes (Terryville, Conn.) to stake Elms to a 3-1 lead. The Blazers tacked on another run in the second when senior Rachel Beery (Springfield, Conn.) scored on a fielding error by the Nighthawks.

Trailing 4-1 in the third, Newbury grabbed control with a seven-run inning. An RBI single from senior Kaitlin McLaughlin (Dorchester, Mass.) followed by a bases loaded hit by pitch to junior Elizabeth Fox (Orono, Maine) trimmed the Blazers lead to 4-3. The Nighthawks took a 5-4 lead on a two-run single by sophomore Naomi Ricciotti (Phoenix, Ariz.). Newbury extended their advantage to 8-5 behind RBI singles from juniors Sherri Liggiero (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Alyssa Donovan (West Haven, Conn.) to close out the inning.

With the Blazers down 9-5 in the sixth, Elms exploded for nine runs in the inning. Back-to-back RBI doubles from sophomore Kacey Gifford (Suffield, Conn.) and Olszewski got things started for the Blazers, followed by a two-run double from sophomore Tessa Cote (Granby, Mass.) to knot the game at 9-9. Elms took control of the scoreboard behind a three-run home run from junior Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) and another RBI single from Cote to push the Blazers lead to 14-9. Grimes (2-4) recorded a 1-2-3 seventh inning for Elms to secure the victory in game one.

The Blazers tallied a season-high 14 hits in the win, with Olszewski leading the way going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Skinner, Gifford, Grimes, Cote, and Beery each tallied a pair of hits, with Skinner, Grimes and Cote collecting three RBIs.

During the nightcap, Newbury broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third behind an RBI single from Kenyon, and an RBI groundout from sophomore Liz Kia (Kea'au, Hawaii). The Blazers pulled even in the bottom of the inning on a two-run double from Grimes. Newbury regained a 3-2 advantage in the fourth on an RBI single from sophomore Lindsey Clark (Venice, Fla.). In the bottom of the seventh, Elms forced extra innings as Skinner delivered a leadoff single, and came around on an RBI double by Olszewski.

In extra innings, Newbury delivered a big blow as Kenyon ripped a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to put the Nighthawks up 5-3. The Blazers responded with Beery advancing to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on an RBI single from junior Samantha Alvino (Holtsville, N.Y.). After a fielder's choice put runners on first and second, Gifford delivered a two-run walkoff double to send the Blazers to the 6-5 win, and sweep of Newbury.

Elms recorded 12 hits, including five extra-base hits, in the win. Skinner, Gifford, Olszewski, senior Gina DiGiovanni (Springfield, Mass.), and senior Jennifer Bouvier (Mashpee, Mass.) registered two hits apiece, with two-RBI efforts from Gifford and Grimes.

With the wins, the Blazers improve to 3-9 overall, and 2-2 in NECC play, while Newbury drops to 5-7, and 0-2 in the NECC. Elms will return to action Monday afternoon in NECC action against Southern Vermont at Cheryl R. Condon Field at 2:00 p.m. The Nighthawks will host Bay Path in a doubleheader in Longmeadow, Massachusetts Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

ELMS SOFTBALL