Softball Stung by Yellow Jackets to Close Out Home Opening Weekend

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Softball team hosted Vermont State University-Lyndon in a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 8 | Vermont State University-Lyndon 11
Records: Blazers 2-11, 0-0 (GNAC) | Hornets 1-11, 0-0 (NAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 7 | Vermont State University-Lyndon 11
Records: Blazers 2-12, 0-0 (GNAC) | Hornets 2-11, 0-0 (NAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) would start in the circle for Elms in Game 1, pitching a third of an inning. After getting into a jam after Vermont State-Lyndon would score nine runs in the first inning, sophomore infielder/pitcher Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) would come in to relieve Zakaitis, pitching six and ⅔ innings with three strikeouts and five scoreless innings. In the top of the second inning, the Hornets would score two more runs, but the Blazers would respond in the bottom of the third, after sophomore utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) would hit a single down the right field line and would steal second base, Dykema would hit a single of her own to drive in Raymond and she would also advance to second base. In the next at-bat, senior outfielder Kyla Cook (Taunton, Mass.) would rip a single down the right field line for a third-straight single for Elms and Dykema would score the second run of the inning. Senior infielder Danajah Stokes (Savannah, Ga.) would hit a single, followed by a walk to first year outfielder Tyanez Padilla (Springfield, Mass.) to load the bases, but Vermont State-Lyndon would get out of the jam and record the final out of the inning. The Elms defense would continue to show a strong showing. In the top of the fourth inning, after a lead off single by the Hornets, graduate student catcher Kelsey Bennett (Granby, Mass.) would catch the runner stealing second base. Then in the bottom half of the inning, Cook would hit a triple to center field to drive in Dykema for the Blazers third run of the game. In the bottom of the fifth, Elms would score four runs. After senior outfielder Sarah Fortini (Florida, Mass.) and Stokes hit back-to-back singles along a walk by first year infielder Marissa Crepeau (Westfield, Mass.), first year Nyah Colon (Springfield, Mass.) would hit a double to right center field to drive in Fortini and Stokes. Then Raymond would hit a ground ball to second base to advance the runners and Crepeau would score. Followed by Dykema hitting a single and Colon would score the fourth and final run of the inning for the Blazers. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Elms would score a run after Stokes attempted a sacrifice bunt, but she would reach base and Bennett would score after an error occurred by the Hornets catcher. In the top of the seventh, after a lead off single, Vermont State-Lyndon would hit a line drive to third base, where Stokes would make the catch and get the base runner out at first base for the double play. The next batter would then hit a grounder to Stokes and would once again get the runner out at first base for the final out of the inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Blazers tried to repeat from the day prior, with Colon earning a walk and Raymon would reach base on a fielder's choice. Unfortunately, the Hornets would record the final two outs to win Game 1 11-8.

Game 2
The second game would see first year pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) with the start, pitching seven innings with two strikeouts. In the top of the first inning, Vermont State-Lyndon would score twice, but in the bottom half of the inning, Raymond would hit a lead off single and would steal second base. Cook would then hit a single through the left side, to advance Raymond to third base, and would then steal second. In the next at-bat, Bennett would hit a single to left field to drive Raymond in for the first run of the game for Elms. The Hornets would score once again in the second and twice in the third, but the Blazers would score twice after Bennett and Fortini would hit back-to-back singles to drive in Dykema and Cook to make the score 5-3. The two teams would struggle to score for two innings, until Vermont State-Lyndon would score one run in the sixth and five runs in the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh inning Elms would score four runs. Stokes would hit a single past third base to score Cook for the first run. Then Bennett would score on a wild pitch. In the next at-bat, Padilla would reach base on an error and Fortini would score, followed by Crepeau reaching base on a fielder's choice and Stokes would score the fourth run. The Blazers would keep rally alive after Hebert would hit a double to left center field, but the Hornets would record the final out to secure the sweep with a 11-7 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Bennett: three for seven, with two runs scored, two runs batted-in, a walk, and two stolen bases.

• Colon: one for three, with a double, two runs scored, two runs batted-in, and a walk.

• Cook: six for nine, with a triple, two runs scored, two runs batted-in, and a stolen base.

• Crepeau: 0 for five, with a run scored, a run batted-in, and two walks.

• Dykema: six for eight, with three runs scored, two runs batted-in, and a walk at the plate, and would pitch six and ⅔ innings with three strikeouts.

• Fortini: four for eight, with two runs scored, a run batted-in, and a stolen base.

• Hebert: one for four, with a double at the plate, and would pitch seven innings with two strikeouts.

• Padilla: 0 for seven, with a run batted-in, and a walk.

• Raymond: three for ten, with two runs scored, a run batted-in, and two stolen bases.

• Stokes: three for six, with a run scored, a run batted-in, two walks, and a stolen base.

• Zakaitis: would pitch ⅓ innings in Game 1.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will travel to the Massachuestts College for Liberal Arts on Thursday, March 27th a non-conference doubleheader at 2 & 4 pm.

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