St. Joseph's Slugs Past Softball

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College Softball team fell in a doubleheader contest against visiting St. Joseph College (Conn.) Tuesday afternoon at the Cheryl R. Condon Field. The Blazers lost, 10-2 during the first contest, then fell 16-7 to end the competition. Elms drops to 5-9 on the season, while St. Joseph (Conn.) sits at 8-4 overall.

 Game 1: Elms 2, St. Joseph 10 (7 Innings)

The Blue Jays came out swinging at the top of the first collecting four runs with five hits. The stint started with Sarah Ercoli (Watertown, Conn.) reaching on a fielder's choice, followed by Patti Sciglimpaglia ( Norwalk, Conn.) singling to short stop to place her on base as well, she then reached second on a passed ball pushing Ercoli to third. With two runners on Mary Sciglimpaglia (Norwalk, Conn.) bombed a deep threat into center field bringing home both Ercoli and Sciglimpaglia to give St. Joseph a 2-0 lead. Isabella Russo (Southington, Conn.) stepped up to the plate for the Blue Jays and reached first on an error, bringing Emily Vigue (Lebanon, Conn.) up to bat. Vigue went on to single to right field enabling Sciglimpaglia and Russo to touch home plate upping the scoreboard to 4-0.

The Blazers would respond quickly in the bottom of the first with Keyla Oliveras (Springfield, Mass.) pushing out a double and then reaching third on a throwing error to which she continued all the way home despite Blue Jay efforts.

The 4-1 score remained untouched until the bottom of the fourth where the Blazers would collect their second and final run of the contest after an Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) single to center field advanced Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) to second and brought in a Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) run for the Elms squad.

Despite numerous efforts the Blazers were unable to light up the scoreboard any further sending the Blue Jays away owning a 10-2 score after St. Joseph went on to collect six more runs throughout the remainder of the contest led by Ashley Rzeszewski (Eynon, Penn.) tallying three RBI's.

For the Blazers Oliveras led in RBI's with one as well as Olszewski.

Game 2: Elms 7, St. Joseph 16 (Five Innings)

In game two, the Blue Jays went on an eight run stint to start off the contest which included a Mary Sciglimpaglia homer past center field. Despite Blazer attempts the Blue Jays went on to strike again swinging full steam throughout the second inning to post a 13-0 scoreboard.  Elms would eventually get on deck when Taylor Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) singled to first followed by a Kierstan Skinner double to bring her home.

The Blazers would then go on a five run stint of their own in the bottom of the third initiated with a Wrang single. With Wrang on deck Samantha Marty (West Brook, Mass.) reached on a throwing error sending Wrang to third. After a Raenanna Tumel (Stafford, Conn.) walk the bases were loaded for Elms. Olszewski capitalized on the situation sending a line drive to second which induced a Blue Jay error sending Tumel to second, Marty to third, and Wrang home for Elms. Tea Sullivan (Dracut, Mass.) would then produce for Elms posting a double to bring home Tumel, Marty, and Olszewski. Skinner followed with a double herself bringing home Sullivan to end the Blazer stint.

Although Elms kept working, bringing in another run in the bottom of the fifth with an Erin O'Donnell (Glenmont, NY.) single to tag Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) home, the Blazers would fall once again to the Blue Jays 16-7.  scoreboard.

Kierstan Skinner led in RBI's with two as well as hits tallying two as well. Sullivan collected two RBI's for Elms.

The Blazers will return to action back home Thursday, March 24^nd at 3:00 p.m. for a conference matchup against Southern Vermont at Cheryl R. Condon Field. The Blue Jays will play Bay Path at home March 29^th. 

ELMS SOFTBALL