Softball Begins the 2025 Season Against Wisconsin-Superior and Bethany

NAPLES, Fla. - The Elms College Softball team faced off against University of Wisconsin-Superior and Bethany College, W.V. in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday morning in the 35th Annual Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 1 | University of Wisconsin-Superior 8
Records: Blazers 0-1, 0-0 (GNAC) | Yellow Jackets 5-2, 0-0 (UMAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 2 | Bethany College, W.V. 17
Records: Blazers 0-2, 0-0 (GNAC) | Bison 4-0, 0-0 (PAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Elms would start the 2025 season with first year pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) in the circle, where she would pitch five innings with two strikeouts in her collegiate debut. Wisconsin-Superior would score twice in the bottom of the first inning and twice in the bottom of the third inning. The Blazers would be awakened in the top of the fourth inning, after a triple to center field by senior outfield Kyla Cook (Tauton, Mass.) and would be driven by senior Danajah Stokes (Savannah, Ga.) with a single. In the bottom half of the inning, graduate student catcher Kelsey Bennett (Granby, Mass.) would make a diving play, as the Yellow Jackets would attempt a bunt, but Bennett would dive for the ball to get the pop out. UWS would bring in four additional runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Elms would continue their efforts to increase their runs score, with sophomore pitcher/utility player Caity Flynn (Colchester, Conn.) would earn a walk and sophomore utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Mass.) would single to center field, advancing Flynn to third base, followed by a single by senior outfielder Sarah Fortini (Florida, Mass.). But their efforts would not capitalize with more runs scored, as Wisconsin-Superior would win the game 8-1.

Game 2
The second game would see Bethany score a combined 17 runs in the first two innings. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) would start in the circle, pitching the first three innings for Elms. The Blazers offense would try to rally their offense after Fortini would record the first base hit in the bottom of the second inning after a single past the shortstop, followed by a single by Hebert and Flynn reaching base on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third. Elms would score twice in the bottom of the fourth inning after sophomore pitcher/infielder Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) would reach base after a walk, followed by a single to center field by Cook. Dykema would score first after Fortini would reach base on an error, and Bennett would drive in Cook with a single to center field. Flynn would return to the circle for the final two innings, where she would record a strikeout and pitch two scoreless innings, but the early lead by Bison would win the game 17-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Bennett: would go one for five, with a single and a run batted-in.

• Cook: would go three for five, with a triple, two runs scored, and a walk.

• Dykema: would go one for six, with a single, a run scored, and a walk.

• Flynn: pitched a combined three innings with a strikeout with one scoreless inning, and would go 0 for four with two walks at the plate.

• Fortini: would go two for four, with two singles and a walk.

• Hebert: pitched five innings with two strikeouts and two scoreless innings, and would go one for two, with a single at the plate.

• Raymond: would go one for six, with a single.

• Stokes: would go one for two, with a single and a run batted-in.

• Zakaitis: pitched three innings of Game 2, with one scoreless inning.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will return to Naples, Fla. on Monday, March 10th as they face off against La Roche University at 9 am and Alfred State College at 11 am North Collier Sports Complex Field 4.

--

For continuing coverage of Elms College Athletics, visit www.ecblazers.com and follow the Blazers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.