Softball Stung by Hornets in Home Opener

CHICOPEE, MA - The Elms College Softball team hosted Vermont State University-Lyndon in their home opener of the 2024 season at Cheryl R. Condon Field Tuesday afternoon.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 4 | Vermont State University-Lyndon 12
Records: Blazers 1-8, 0-0 (GNAC) | Hornets 2-4, 0-0 (NAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 0 | Wittenberg University 11
Records: Blazers 1-9, 0-0 (GNAC) | Hornets 3-4, 0-0 (NAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The Blazers would start the game off in their favor, holding the Hornets scoreless and scoring two runs in the first inning, when first-year Jill Dykema (Preston, CT) would lead off with a triple and then scored the opening run on a wild pitch and junior Katie Cosmos (Wolcott, CT) would drive in first-year Caity Flynn (Colchester, CT) with an RBI-single to centerfield. First-year Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, MA) would start for Elms, for her home debut, and in her 4.2 innings pitched, she would record two strikeouts with three scoreless innings. Unfortunately for the Blazers, the Hornets would quickly respond in the top of the second inning with six runs and an additional six runs in the top of the fifth inning. But Elms would try to rally back in the bottom half of the fifth, when junior Kyla Cook (Tauton, MA) would drive in Cosmos, which then was followed by a double-steal with Cook stealing second and senior Josie Cammarata (Wolcott, CT) stealing home for the final run of the opener. Lyndon would win the game 12-4 at the end of five innings.

Game 2
Dykema would take the mound for the Blazers in game two of the doubleheader, pitching all seven innings with a strikeout and two scoreless innings in her home debut. The Hornets would get on the board early, scoring a run in the first inning and would continue to add to their lead later in the game scoring an additional six runs to jump to a 7-0 lead. Elms would add moments of offensive life throughout the game, but would not capitalize those moments with runs. Then in the bottom of seventh inning, Zakaitis would drive in Cook with a single to try to bring the Blazers back into the game, but Lyndon would secure the victory and sweep of the afternoon 7-1.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will return to action for a doubleheader at Cheryl R. Condon Field, as the road team, against Bay Path University on Thursday, March 21st at 3 and 5 PM.

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