Lusardi Gets 100th K As Softball Blanks Wheelock In Double-Header

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College softball team swept a New England Collegiate Conference double-header from Wheelock on Thursday afternoon, winning 13-0 in game one and 7-0 in game two.

The Blazers improve to 14-15 on the season and 9-5 in NECC play with the wins and will battle Bay Path in a double-header on April 28 to close out the regular-season with conference tournament implications on the line. Wheelock (2-26, 0-14 NECC) will close the regular-season at home against Lesley on April 28.

GAME 1 - Elms 13, Wheelock 0 (5 Innings)
Lisa Lusardi (Enfield, Conn.) recorded her 100^th career strikeout while tossing a two-hit, nine strikeout complete-game shutout to start the day. She allowed just one walk and improved to 7-9 on the season with the win. Lusardi entered the day with 92 career strikeouts, including 52 with Elms this season, before surpassing the 100-K milestone while striking out the side in the top of the fifth to end the game.

Meanwhile, the Blazer offense provided plenty of support. Elms picked up five runs in the bottom of the first and added two in the second and three each in the third and fourth innings. Lusardi and Madison Messier (Warren, Mass.) each went 4-for-4 at the plate. Messier picked up hits from both sides of the dish, including a triple, and also scored four times. Lusardi picked up a game-high six RBIs to help her own cause, hitting three doubles. Tyla Risucci (Watertown, Conn.) went 3-for-3 with a double.

Shannon Creedeon (Woodstock, Conn.) and Hanna Gootee picked up the only Wheelock hits of the contest.

GAME 2 – Elms 7, Wheelock 0
The Blazers used a four-run fifth and tacked up two more in the sixth to secure a 7-0 win in game two and pick up the sweep.

Elms opened the scoring with one run in the second inning but the Wildcats got the would-be game-tying run to second base with one out in the fifth. Lusardi, who replaced Raeanna Tumel (Stafford, Conn.) in the top of the fifth, got out of the jam unscathed to maintain the Blazer lead before the Elms offense put the game out of reach.

Tumel pitched four innings and racked up five strikeouts with the win, improving to 7-6 overall. She scattered three hits and walked one batter. Lusardi gave up just two hits over three innings of work.

Messier and Lusardi each picked up two hits and two RBIs for Elms.

Taylor McDonald (Weare, N.H.) went 2-for-4 for Wheelock and Rachael Simpson (Littleton, Mass.) went 2-for-3.