Bay Path Edges Softball In NECC Doubleheader

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

LONGMEADOW, Mass. – The Elms College Softball team fell to host Bay Path University Sunday afternoon in double header action. The Blazers lost, 4-2 during the first contest and 8-7 in the second to close out the day. Elms shifts to 13-14 on the season and 7-5 in conference action, while the Wildcats rise to 10-16 overall and 7-7 in NECC play.

 Game 1: Bay Path 4, Elms 2

The Blazers were able to light up the scoreboard early gaining their initial run of the contest during the first off of a Kacey Gifford (Suffield, Conn.) homer out to center field. The Blazers would continue their scoring efforts in the second tacking on their second and final run of the contest after a Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) single brought home Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) from the second base bag. Skinner had previously singled to short stop and was able to make the play for the Elms squad.

From there the Wildcats would take control tallying all four of their runs during the bottom of the fifth inning. The stint started with a Marissa Sarna-McCarty (Westhampton, Mass.) double to right center field followed by a Casey Botelho (Providence, RI) single to advance the runner on base. From there Paige Marshall (New Britian, Conn.) was able to capitalize on a short stop error in turn advancing all runners and sending McCarthy home for Bay Path. Lauren Vallee (Bristol, Conn.) continued on to secure a homer for the Wildcats sending a bomb to right center field bringing in three tallies for Bay Path. The Blazers were unable to respond leaving the Wildcats with the first win of the twin bill.

Game 2: Bay Path 8, Elms 7 (9 Innings)

In game two, the Blazers came out swinging tallying four runs in the first. The stint began with a Keyla Oliveras (Springfield, Mass.) double to left field followed by a Gifford triple sending Oliveras home for Elms. From there Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) traveled to first off of a well-played bunt and stole second to keep the pressure high. Messier continued to advance to third on a passed ball in turn bringing in Gifford for another Elms tally. A Skinner single would send Messier home, followed by Meghan Shewchuk (Springfield, Mass.) advancing on an error sending Erin O'Donnell (Glenmont, N.Y.) to home plate for the Blazers posting a 4-0 score.

The Wildcats were able to respond in the second with Anna Meyer (Millbrook, N.Y.) reaching home. Bay Path was held to one run until the bottom of the sixth when Valle homered once again tacking on a second score. The stint continued with a Madison Goodhart (Pawtucket, RI.) homer out to left center bringing in Katrina Peck (Newington, Conn.) and Meyer to post a 5-4 Elms score.

Bay Path went on to secure another run throughout the bottom of the seventh off of a Peck single that sent Valle to home plate.

The Blazers responded in the eighth with a pair of runs themselves after Gifford doubled to right center bringing home Wrang who had been placed on second. Téa Sullivan (Dracut, Mass.) continued the stint doubling to left center bringing home Gifford for Elms.

Bay Path matched with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth keeping the contest tied with Katrina and McCarthy both touching the home plate bag. 

Tensions were high as the contest was sent into a ninth inning with a tied 7-7 scoreboard. Bay Path was able to keep Elms at bay and out of the scoring column. They then went on to secure the final run of the contest as McCarthy singled to right field sending Peck to third and Meyer to home plate to capture the game.

For Elms Gifford led in RBI's with two and Messier led in hits with three.  

The Blazers will return to action Tuesday, April 19^th at 5:00 p.m. for a conference matchup against Newbury away. The Wildcats will play host to Becker April 19^th with a 3:30 pm start time^.

ELMS SOFTBALL