Softball Lose a Tough Road Conference Matchup at St. Joseph, Conn.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Elms College Softball team traveled to the University of Saint Joseph, Conn. for a conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 2 | University of Saint Joseph, Conn. 9
Records: Blazers 4-19, 0-5 (GNAC) | Blue Jays 10-10, 3-2 (GNAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 1 | University of Saint Joseph, Conn. 7
Records: Blazers 4-20, 0-6 (GNAC) | Blue Jays 11-10, 4-2 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) would take the ball for Elms in Game 1, pitching six innings, with six strikeouts and two scoreless innings. In the bottom of the first inning, Saint Joseph would score two runs to take an early lead. However, the Blazers would answer back with two runs of their own in the top of the second inning after sophomore utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) would hit a one-run single to drive in first year utility player Sydney Barthel (Windsor Locks, Conn.). Then in the next at-bat, sophomore pitcher/infielder Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) would drive in first year pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) with a one-run single past the shortstop to tie the game 2-2. Neither team would score in the third inning, but the Blue Jays would take the lead after scoring four runs in the fourth, followed by an additional two runs in the fifth. Elms would try to rally back, with two singles by senior infielder Danajah Stokes (Savannah, Ga.), but USJ would score one last run to win the opening game 9-2.

Game 2
The second game would see Hebert with the start for the Blazers, pitching three innings with three strikeouts and two scoreless innings. Offensively, both teams would struggle to score, with Elms earning a hit from Raymond, but the Blue Jays would be the first on the board, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Blazers would see a single from graduate student catcher Kelsey Bennett (Granby, Mass.) in the fourth, but after two more runs would be scored by Saint Joseph, Dykema would come into the game to relieve Hebert, pitching three innings with one scoreless. After Zakaitis would hit a single, Raymond would drive-in Stokes with a single of her own for their first run of the game. Elms would continue their efforts to trim down their deficit, but the Blue Jays would hold their lead to win the second game 7-1.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Barthel: one for five, with a run scored and a walk.

• Bennett: one for five.

• Dykema: would pitch three innings, and go one for seven with a run batted-in at the plate.

• Hebert: would pitch three innings with three strikeouts, and would go 0 for three with a run scored and a walk at the plate.

• Raymond: three for seven, with two runs batted-in.

• Stokes: two for five, with a run scored.

• Zakaitis: would pitch six innings, with three strikeouts, and would go one for six at the plate.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will host Albertus Magnus College on Sunday, April 6th for a conference doubleheader at 12 & 2 pm at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

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