Softball Falls at Amherst

AMHERST, Mass. - Ally Kido '18 hit a grand slam, and the Amherst College softball team totaled 10 hits in four innings en route to a decisive 14-1 win over Elms College Wednesday night at the Amherst College Softball Field.

The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the Jeffs as they improve to 14-11 overall. The Purple & White also ended the Blazers' four-game winning streak as they dropped their non-conference opponent to 12-12 on the year. Elms had won 11 of its last 13 games heading into Wednesdays' game.

Kido was a perfect 2-for-2 with a double and a grand slam to total six RBI on the day. She also scored twice. Ashleigh Rutherford '16 had a double as well and finished 2-for-3 from the plate with four RBI, a walk and two runs scored. Kelsey Ayers '15 went 2-for-4 with a run scored, Alyssa Sherwill '15 hit a double, and three others registered a single. Jackie Buechler '17 started in the circle and tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, while striking out two batters and allowing one hit. Nicolette Miranda '16 pitched in relief and earned the win. She threw 2.0 innings, and allowed one unearned run on two hits. Lauren Tuiskula '17 pitched the top of the fifth inning and retired the side.

The Blazers were held to three hits as Kierstan Skinner, Gina Digiovanni and Jennifer Bouvier all recorded singles. Digiovanni (1-for-1) drove in the visitor's only run with a RBI single in the bottom of the third.

After a scoreless first inning, Amherst took advantage of Elms' miscues en route to a big eight-run bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and one out, Idalia Friedson '15 reached first on an error as Kido crossed home. After an infield pop-up on the next-at bat, Rutherford walked with the bases loaded and Brianna Cook '16 reached base on another Blazer error to bring home two runs. After Caroline Sealander '15 walked to load the bases again, Kido hit a deep ball over the center field fence for the two-out grand slam as Amherst pulled ahead, 8-0. 

Miranda retired all three batters she faced in the top of the third, as Amherst put together another solid performance in the bottom half of the inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Rutherford doubled to right center to bring home two more runs. Cook singled on the next at-bat to drive in Rutherford, and after another Elms' error, Kido doubled to clear the bases and give the Jeffs a 13-0 lead. 

After consecutive errors by Amherst in the top of the third put runners on second and third with no outs, Digiovanni pinch hit and singled to bring home Elms' first and only run of the game. Rutherford hit a RBI single in the bottom half of the inning, and Tuiskula put together a quick one-two-three inning in the fifth to seal the victory in five innings.

The Blazers will be back in action with a New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Regis College Thursday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.

Amherst returns to action Friday, April 24 and will begin its three-game weekend series against Wesleyan. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.