Softball Walks Off Over Westfield State

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College Softball team took down the Westfield State Owls for the first time since 2011, posting a 5-4 win in a close non- conference matchup Thursday afternoon at Cheryl R. Condon Field. With the win the Blazers rise to 9-10 overall, while the Owls fall to 5-10 on the season.

The Blazers came out strong collecting their first run during the bottom of the first when Kacey Gifford (Suffield, Conn.) singled and traveled all the way to third. From there a Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) double out to center field sent Gifford home giving Elms the initial tally on the scoreboard.

The Blazers were able to hold off Westfield during the second, furthering the Elms momentum as they would go on to collect their second run of the contest when Erin O'Donnell (Glenmont, NY.) touched home plate for the squad after an Owl error enabled Tea Sullivan (Dracut, Mass.) to place herself on the first base bag.

The Owls finally got on the board during the top of the fourth posting a Maddy Atkocaitis (Westfield, Mass.) homer out past center field to help close out the two run deficit. The Owls kept pushing and went on to play the same tune to start out their fifth inning run posting an Erika Gouin (Hampden, Mass.) homer to tie things up 2-2. From there the Owls would trigger their third homerun of the contest off the bat of Liz Kelly (Quincy, Mass.) who was able to push Emma Dunbar (Weymouth, Mass.) off the second base bag and home for Westfield giving the Owls a 4-2 advantage.

Elms would respond collecting two runs of their own throughout the bottom of fifth, starting with a Catharine Wrang (Middletown, Conn.) single down the right line. A Gifford bullet out to center field would push Wrang to second, keeping the Blazers options open with no outs on the board. Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) collected a big walk for Elms advancing the runners on base to load the diamond.  O'Donnell sent a grounder out past the short stop advancing on a fielders choice as the Owls tagged Messier, in turn letting Wrang run home for Elms. A Raeanna Tumel (Stafford, Conn.) single brought in Gifford to tie the contest 4-4. 

The Blazers went on to secure the win during the bottom of the seventh after Olszewski reached on an error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Messier. With a runner on O'Donnell produced for Elms singling down the line and advancing to second to push home Olszewski and give the Blazers a 5-4 winning scoreboard.

For the Blazers O'Donnell led in RBI's with two on the contest, while Tumel led in hits with three. For Westfield Kelly led in hits as well as RBI's with two apiece.

The Blazers will return to action Saturday, April 2^nd at 2:00 pm. for an NECC matchup against Newbury College. The Owls will play host to Bridgewater State April 2^nd for a 12pm start.