Condon Claims Win No. 400 in Sweep of Bay Path

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College Head Softball Coach Cheryl R. Condon reached another coaching milestone, earning her 400^th career victory as the Blazers swept visiting Bay Path University in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) doubleheader at Cheryl R. Condon Field Sunday afternoon. With the wins, the Blazers improve to 12-11 overall, and 11-3 in NECC play, while Bay Path drops to 6-17, and 3-7 on the season.

"[Win No. 400] was surprising," said Condon. "No coach in the world pays attention to what they do, and it was really a nice surprise by my coaches and players today. They presented me with a nice gift, and flowers, and it was really special."

Following today's doubleheader with Bay Path, the Blazers honored their departing seniors Gina DiGiovanni (Springfield, Mass.), Elizabeth Patient (Leicester, Mass.), Ashley Reid (Enfield, Conn.), Alyson Santerre (Thompson, Conn.), Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.), Rachel Beery (Springfield, Mass.), Bethany Grimes (Terryville, Conn.), and Jennifer Bouvier (Mashpee, Mass.).

"When you put together eight seniors with four seasons of softball, that's 32 years of experience we're celebrating," added Condon. "For us, obviously we're losing the talent, but also the personalities, the leaders, and the people, but they have, and will continue to for the next week and half, to have the opportunity to leave their marks on Elms. They want to finish strong."

In the opener, the Wildcats struck first in the top of the opening frame as freshman Ashley Vallee (Bristol, Conn.) launched a two-run home run down the left field line, giving Bay Path a 2-0 lead. The Blazers rallied in the third. Following a leadoff single from junior Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) and a double from sophomore Kacey Gifford (Suffield, Conn.), freshman Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) blasted a three-run homer over the left field to put the Blazers up 3-2 after three innings.

With two outs in the fourth, the Blazers capitalized on Wildcat miscues to close the game out. Gifford came around to score after a ball was misplayed off the bat of Olszewski, followed by an RBI single from DiGiovanni to make it a 6-2 game. Two runs would score after a misplayed ball in left field, off the bat of Beery, and then Beery scored on an error at third base. Elms put the game away with an RBI triple from sophomore Tessa Cote (Granby, Mass.) to deep centerfield, sending the Blazers to the 10-2 win in game one.

Grimes (6-6) earned the win from the circle, allowing two runs on three hits with eight strikeouts. Bay Path freshman Sarah Paskiewicz (2-6; Ansonia, Conn.) took the loss, surrendering 10 runs, four earned, on 11 hits with no strikeouts.

In the nightcap, the Blazers claimed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single by Beery. The Wildcats cut their deficit in half on an RBI single through the right side of the infield by junior Paige Marshall (New Britain, Conn.), and had the chance to do more damage, but Elms senior Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.) struck out back-to-back batters to get out of a bases loaded jam.

The Blazers built on their lead in the second inning with Bouvier scoring on an errant throw by Wildcats third baseman freshman Gillian Flynn (Windsor, Conn.), followed by a two-run single from junior Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) and a sac bunt from DiGiovanni to stake Elms to a 6-1 lead after two innings. The Wildcats chipped away at the Blazers lead in the third as junior Anna Meyer (Millbrook, N.Y.) ripped a two-run single to shallow centerfield, cutting the Elms advantage to 6-3. The Blazers added an insurance runs in the sixth on an RBI singles from Skinner and DiGiovanni, along with an RBI triple from Gifford, securing the 9-3 victory, and doubleheader sweep of Bay Path.

Colson (6-4) went five innings for the win, allowing three runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts. Grimes gave up two hits with five strikeouts in two innings of relief. Bay Path junior Maria Carta (Middletown, Conn.) was saddled with the loss after scattering nine runs, seven earned, on 13 hits with no strikeouts.

"It was nice to have another sweep weekend in conference," continued Condon. "Our pitchers were on again, and get got a lot of good hits that we were able to string together, and we didn't leave a lot on base. We talked about that early in the season and it's coming along now, and we're adjusting to different pitching, so it's all good. We need to keep up effort up down the stretch, our defense and pitching has been strong, and now our hitting is coming along, so I think we are in good shape to finish, and we are right where we want to be."

The Blazers will look to continue their winning ways with a road trip to Amherst College for a non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. The Wildcats return to action hosting Daniel Webster in a NECC doubleheader Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

 ELMS SOFTBALL