Softball Fight Hard Against MCLA

CHICOPEE, MA - The Elms College Softball team hosted Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 2 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 11
Records: Blazers 1-14, 0-0 (GNAC) | Trailblazers 5-11, 0-2 (MASCAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 8 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 12
Records: Blazers 1-15, 0-0 (GNAC) | Trailblazers 6-11, 0-2 (MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
First-year Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, MA) would get the start for the Blazers in game one of the Tuesday doubleheader. In her 3.0 innings pitched, Zakaitis would throw two scoreless innings and two strikeouts. In the top of the third inning, MLCA would score three runs and would follow in the following inning with an additional four runs. Then in the top of the seventh inning, the Trailblazers would score four more runs to increase their lead 0-11. Then in the bottom of the seventh inning, first-year Jill Dykema (Preston, CT) would hit a single to drive in senior Kelsey Bennett (Chicopee, MA) for the Blazers' first score. Then the following at bat, first-year Caity Flynn (Colchester, CT) would hit a sacrifice fly out to center field, which would drive in junior Sarah Fortini (Florida, MA) for their second and final run of the game. MCLA would go on to win the first game of the doubleheader 2-11.

Game 2
Flynn would take the mound for the Blazers in game two of the doubleheader, pitching two innings with a strikeout and a scoreless inning, after already pitching four innings in the first game with an additional two scoreless innings and a strikeout. Elms would get on the board first after junior Katie Cosmos (Wolcott, CT) hit a single to drive in Dykema. The Trailblazers would take the lead in the top of second inning, scoring two runs and would score an additional two runs in the top of the third inning. Then in the bottom of the third inning, after hitting a leadoff single, Dykema would score off an error by the MCLA first basemen with Flynn reaching first base. Senior Josie Cammarata (Wolcott, CT) would sacrifice bunt later in the inning to drive in Flynn to bring the score to 3-4. In the top of the fourth inning, the Trailblazers would score five runs to increase their lead 3-9. But the Blazers would quickly respond when Cosmos would hit a sacrifice fly out to right field and drive in Zakaitis. Then was followed by an RBI-single by Cammarata driving in Fortini and that would be followed by another RBI-single by junior Kyla Cook (Tauton, MA), driving in Flynn, and to bring the score to 6-9. MCLA would again increase their lead 6-12 after scoring in the top of the sixth inning and a two-run home run in the top of the seventh. The Elms offense would not be stopped in the bottom of the seventh inning, after Zaikaitis would single and then advance to second base after an error, which would drive in Bennett and Cook for two more runs, but Trailblazers would win the game and secure the sweep on the day with a 8-12 final.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will host Rivier University in a conference doubleheader on Thursday, April 4th at Cheryl R. Condon Field with start times of 2 & 4 PM.

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