Softball Walks Off With Doubleheader Split Against Becker
Game 1
Game 1
| Final (9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Becker | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
|
Elms | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final (8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Becker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
|
Elms | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)
CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College softball team split a pair of games in a New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader against visiting Becker College at Cheryl R. Condon Field Sunday afternoon. Both contests went to extra innings with the Hawks taking the opener 4-3, but Elms walked off with the 2-1 win in the second game.
The Hawks got on the scoreboard early as senior Megan Bolduc (Dover, N.H.) knocked an RBI double to left-centerfield, staking Becker to a 1-0 lead. In the top of the third, the Hawks extended their lead to 2-0 as junior Jaclyn Orangio (Maynard, Mass.) advanced to third on a single from Bolduc, and then scored on a misplayed ball at first base. The Blazers cut into their deficit in the bottom of the frame as sophomore Tessa Cote (Granby, Mass.) blasted a solo home run over the centerfield fence to make it a 2-1 game. Becker pushed ahead 3-1 on an RBI triple from junior Jessica Wheelahan (Watertown, Conn.) laced an RBI triple to deep centerfield in the fifth. Elms rallied in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) launched her first career home run, a two-run blast, to left-center to knot the score at 3-3. Neither team scored in the seventh to send the contest to extra innings. After a scoreless eighth inning, the Hawks scored the decisive run as sophomore Marlena Karavolis (McMurray, Pa.) blooped an RBI single to shallow right field, sending Becker to the 4-3 win.
Olszewski and senior Bethany Grimes (Terryville, Conn.) had two hits apiece, with Olszewski and Cote delivering their first home runs of the season. Grimes (4-5) logged her eighth complete game in the loss, surrendering four runs, two earned, on nine hits with a season-high 13 strikeouts. Becker junior Kelsey Norberg (3-6; Uxbridge, Mass.) earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts, including her 400th career punchout.
The second game of the day provided to be a pitching duel between Elms senior Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.) and Norberg. After seven innings of scoreless play, the Blazers and Hawks need extra innings again to settle the game. The Hawks cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single from freshman Rebecca Carkhuff (Amherst, Mass.). With a runner on second and one out, Elms junior Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) belted an RBI triple to centerfield, knotting the game at 1-1. The Blazers walked off with the victory as sophomore Kacey Gifford (Suffield, Conn.) knocked an RBI single up the middle of the infield to give Elms the 2-1 win.
With the split, the Blazers moved to 8-10 on the season, and 7-2 in NECC action. Becker sits at 6-9 overall, and 2-2 in conference play. Elms will return to the diamond with a road trip to Springfield College Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader starting at 3:45 p.m. Becker hosts Southern Vermont in a conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
ELMS SOFTBALL
