Softball Slugs Past Daniel Webster in NECC Doubleheader

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

NASHUA, N.H. – The Elms College softball team cruised to a pair of New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) victories over host Daniel Webster College in a doubleheader at Eagle Field Saturday afternoon. Elms clubbed the Eagles, 19-0 in five innings, in the opener, and then rolled to a 15-0 win in the finale. The Blazers improved to 11-10 on the season, and 5-1 in conference play, while Daniel Webster drops to 0-6 in the NECC, and 2-10 overall.

Game 1: Elms 19, Daniel Webster 0 (5 Innings)

The Blazers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as freshman Keyla Oliveras (Springfield, Mass.) drew a leadoff walk and then stole three bases, capped off with a double steal to swipe home and stake Elms to 1-0 lead. Junior Kacey Gifford (Suffield, Conn.) knocked an RBI double, and then scored on an Eagles error to push the lead to 3-0. Sophomore Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) laced a two-run single, followed by a two-run double from freshman Tea Sullivan (Dracut, Mass.) to extend the advantage to 7-0. Freshman Raeanna Tumel (Stafford, Conn.) scampered home on a wild pitch, Gifford drew a bases loaded RBI walk, and then senior Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) delivered an RBI fielder's choice to hand Elms a 10-0 lead in the first inning.

In the top of the second, the Blazers added to their lead as freshman Catharine Wrang (Middletown, Conn.), Gifford, and Skinner drew three straight bases load RBI walks to make it 13-0. Freshmen Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) and Erin O'Donnell (Glenmont, N.Y.) cranked out back-to-back RBI singles, followed by an RBI fielder's choice from Olszewski to push the lead to 16-0. O'Donnell and Messier scored on an error by the Eagles to put Elms up 18-0. The Blazers tacked on a final run in the fifth on an RBI single from senior Taylor Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) en route to the 19-0 victory.

Tumel started in the pitching circle for Elms, allowing just two hits in three scoreless frames, while Oliveras (1-0) earned the win in relief with two perfect innings of work.

Game 2: Elms 15, Daniel Webster 0

The Blazers struck first in the nightcap, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning behind an RBI groundout from Gifford. Elms extended the advantage to 3-0 in the second as Taylor Skinner ripped a two-run single, plating freshmen Kayla Doherty (Plaistow, N.H.) and Samantha Marty (West Brookfield, Mass.).

In the top of the fourth, Taylor Skinner and Oliveras scored on a fielding error by the Eagles, followed by an RBI single from Wrang to push the lead to 6-0.

After Taylor Skinner knocked an RBI triple in the fifth, Elms broke the game open with an eight-run seventh inning. O'Donnell and Oliveras scored on a wild pitch, and then Wrang plated two runs with single. Messier ripped a two-run triple, and then scored on an RBI double from senior Samantha Alvino (Holtsville, N.Y.) to give Elms the 15-0 win.

Junior Tessa Cote (5-7; Granby, Mass.) took the win in the pitching circle, scattering only two hits with five strikeouts in five scoreless innings of work. Tumel fanned a pair of batters in two innings of relief.

Elms will look to remain in the win column with a conference road trip to Becker College for an NECC doubleheader Sunday afternoon. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Daniel Webster hosts Southern Vermont in an NECC twinbill Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

ELMS SOFTBALL