Softball To Host RPI
SOFTBALL TO HOST RPI
The Matchup: RPI (20-6) at Elms College
(15-11)
Date: Friday, April 24
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Site: Condon Field (Chicopee, MA)
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directions to Elms College
All-Time Series: RPI leads the series
3-0.
Last Meeting: RPI defeated Elms College 8-0 in a
six-inning, mercy-rule decision in the first round of the NCAA
Division III Championship on May 11, 2006 at Ithaca, New York.
Setting The Scene: Elms College has won 12 of 14 and is
coming off doubleheader sweeps over New England Collegiate
Conference (NECC) foes Bay Path and Wheelock. This afternoon marks
the non-conference, regular season finale for the Blazers, who
remain firmly entrenched in second place in the NECC heading into
the final weekend of regular season play. In last Sunday's
conference doubleheader sweep at Wheelock, junior catcher
Kim Lastowski (Turners Falls, MA) went a combined
6 for 8 and freshman left fielder Marlene DiRaimo
(Cranston, RI) added four RBI. A five-run top of the
seventh helped the Blazers pull away to a 10-2 win in game one,
while Destinee Meeker (Bantam, CT) and Ani
Ramsdell (Gardner, MA) combined for a two-hitter in game
two for the 8-0 win in five innings. In the seventh inning of game
one, the Blazers erupted for five runs on five hits to seal the
victory. Elms College was led by multi-hit performances from six
different players, including three hits each from sophomore center
fielder Allison McBride (East Providence, RI) and
senior shortstop Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, MA). In
the nightcap, the game remained scoreless until the third inning
when Elms College freshman Amanda Alvarado (Ludlow,
MA) scored on a groundout by Ally Graffum
(Ipswich, MA). McBride followed with a single to score
Lastowski. The Blazers added two more in the fourth and four in the
fifth inning, highlighted by a triple from DiRaimo. Lastowski went
4 for 4 with two RBI in the second game.
Scouting The Opposition: RPI, a member of the Liberty
League, has also won 12 of its last 14 and posted its 20th win
of the year at Middlebury on Wednesday afternoon. The Red Hawks
were nipped 1-0 in game one, but rebounded with a 7-4 victory over
host the host Panthers in the nightcap. Despite lacking roster
depth, RPI packs a punch, as eight of its 13 players are currently
batting better than .300, including sophomore first baseman
Jen Bach (Lansdale, PA) (.477) and senior pitcher
Sarah Finkbeiner (Ellenville, NY) (.406). Bach and
Finkbeiner have combined for seven home runs, nine doubles, four
triples and 56 RBI. The Red Hawks also have lethal depth in the
bullpen, as their four pitchers have combined for 161 strikeouts
and a 2.85 ERA. As a team, RPI comes into today batting a sizzling
.362 with 12 homers, 51 doubles and 196 RBI.
Makeup Date: The Blazers conclude regular season play when they host Southern Vermont in a NECC makeup doubleheader this Sunday, April 26. Game one is set for 1:00 p.m.
Keeping Track of Blazers' Athletics: For the
latest news, notes and statistics on all 15
intercollegiate teams at Elms College, visit our athletics website
at http://athletics.elms.edu/landing/index or
call the Sports Information Hotline at 413-265-2414.