Softball Wraps Up Spring Break Trip Against Potsdam and Crown

NAPLES, Fla. - The Elms College Softball team wrapped up their Spring Break as they faced off against the State University of New York at Potsdam and Crown College, Minn. in a non-conference doubleheader Friday morning in the 35th Annual Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 10 | State University of New York at Potsdam 10
Records: Blazers 0-7, 0-0 (GNAC) | Bears 4-3, 0-0 (SUNYAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 0 | Crown College, Minn. 11
Records: Blazers 0-8, 0-0 (GNAC) | Polars 1-7, 0-0 (UMAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Sophomore pitcher/infielder Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) would take the ball for Elms to start the first game of the day, but Potsdam would be the first to score in the bottom of the first inning. Dykema would rip a single up the middle of the field in the top of the second, but the Bears would continue to control the narrative, scoring five runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Blazers would see a single by sophomore utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) in the top of the third inning, followed by another run scored by Potsdam, but in the top of the fourth inning, Elms would see a lead off single to centerfield by senior outfielder Kyla Cook (Tauton, Mass.). Graduate student catcher Kelsey Bennett (Granby, Mass.) would follow with a single of her own, along with Dykema reaching base on a fielder's choice and a single by senior outfielder Sarah Fortini (Florida, Mass.). But in the top of the fourth inning, senior Danajah Stokes (Savannah, Ga.) would hit a single up the middle to drive in Dykema and Fortini would cross the plate after a fielding error. Elms would continue to find ways to rally back, with Raymond earning a walk and would steal second base, but the Bears continued to tally runs, and would win the game 10-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Game 2
The second game would see sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) on the rubber, pitching two and ⅔ innings, but Crown would gain momentum early, scoring five runs in the first inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Bennett would hit a double to center field, but the Blazers would continue to struggle to get runs on the board. The Polars would add four more runs in the second inning, then first year pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) would come in to pitch in the top of third, tossing three strikeouts in her second pitching appearance of the day. In the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, the Elms offense tried to create a rally after singles by Cook and Dykema, along with a Bennett and first year infielders Nyah Colon (Springfield, Mass.) and Marissa Crepeau (Westfield, Mass.) would reach base, but Crown would walk away with the 11-0 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Bennett: two for three, with a double and a walk.

• Cook: two for four, with a walk.

• Crepeau: 0 for one, with a walk.

• Dykema: would pitch three innings with a strikeout, and would go two for four with a run scored.

• Fortini: one for two, with a run scored.

• Hebert: would pitch a combined four innings, with three strikeouts.

• Raymond: one for five, with a walk and a stolen base.

• Stokes: one for three, with a run batted-in.

• Zakaitis: would pitch two and ⅔ innings, with a strikeout.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will return to action for their home opener against Bay Path University on Thursday, March 20th for a non-conference doubleheader at 2 & 4 pm at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

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