Softball Collects First Win Of The Season

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Elms College softball team split a pair of games Sunday afternoon at the 2017 Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic, falling to Dominican (Ill.), 6-1, in their opener, and then defeating Kenyon College, 10-2, in six innings to wrap up their action for the day. The Blazers move to 1-3 on the season, while Dominican improved to 3-3 and Kenyon sits at 2-4 overall.

Game 1: Dominican (Ill.) 6, Elms 1

The Stars struck first, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as sophomore Gabby Curran (Elmhurst, Ill.) lined a leadoff double and came around to score on a two-out, two-run double from classmate Gabi Alfaro (Aurora, Ill.).

Dominican added to their advantage in the bottom of the fourth as junior Ali Woitovich (Downers Grove, Ill.) clubbed a leadoff home run to make it 3-1. With runners on first and second, freshman Cat Klostermann (Oak Brook, Ill.) delivered an RBI single to left centerfield, and then pinch runner junior Elizabeth Cordes (Farmer City, Ill.) touched home on a wild pitch to extend the Stars lead to 6-0.

The Blazers lone run of the contest came in the top of the seventh with junior Elizabeth Olszewski (Canterbury, Conn.) knocking a double to left center, and then scoring on an RBI groundout from sophomore Erin O'Donnell (Glenmont, N.Y.) to set the score at 6-1.

Elms sophomore Raeanna Tumel (0-2, Stafford, Conn.) gave up six runs in the circle in 3.1 innings of work, while senior Tessa Cote (Granby, Mass.) delivered 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Klostermann (1-0) picked up the win for the Stars, limiting the Blazers to three hits in five scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Game 2: Elms 10, Kenyon 2 (6 Innings)

After two scoreless innings opened play, the Lords cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as sophomore Britny Patterson (Corona, Calif.) delivered an RBI groundout to third base, scoring junior Maci Maldonado (Chicago, Ill.) to stake Kenyon to a 1-0 lead. The Blazers responded in the top of the fourth with Cote ripping a leadoff double down the left field line, and then touching home as Olszewski laced an RBI single up the middle.

Tied 1-1 in the fifth, the Elms offense erupted for seven runs in the frame, ignited by three straight walks to load the bases. Freshman Katelyn Sylvia (Southwick, Mass.) registered her first collegiate hit and RBI with a two-run single through the left side of the infield, handing the Blazers a 3-1 lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore Téa Sullivan (Dracut, Mass.) drew an RBI walk, and then freshman Hannah Adams (Deerfield, Mass.) recorded her first collegiate hit and RBI with a two-run single to right centerfield, pushing Elms ahead 6-1. Sullivan and Adams came home on a fielding error by the Lords to control an 8-1 advantage.

Kenyon added a run in the bottom of the fifth behind an RBI fielder's choice from freshman Lauren Graf (Allen Park, Mich.). The Blazers put the game away in the top of the sixth with sophomore Kayla Doherty (Plaistow, N.H.) crossing home as O'Donnell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, followed by sophomore Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) scoring on a sacrifice fly from Olszewski to seal the 10-2 victory for Elms.

Cote (1-1) collected her first victory from the pitching circle, scattering one run on five hits. Sylvia and Cote led the Blazers at the dish with 2-for-4 days, while Sylvia drove in a pair and Cote scored twice. Kenyon freshman Keely Sweet (1-1; Glencoe, Mo.) took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits with a game-high nine strikeouts.

The Blazers will look to remain in the win column with a pair of games Tuesday morning, facing Rockford at 9:00 a.m, followed by a game against Alverno at 11:00 a.m.

ELMS SOFTBALL