Trailblazers Beat Softball in First Road Doubleheader

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - The Elms College Softball team traveled to Massachusetts College for Liberal Arts in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 4 | Massachusetts College for Liberal Arts 16
Records: Blazers 2-13, 0-0 (GNAC) | Trailblazers 5-6, 0-0 (MASCAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 5 | Massachusetts College for Liberal Arts 13
Records: Blazers 2-14, 0-0 (GNAC) | Trailblazers 6-6, 0-0 (MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
First year pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) started the game for Elms, pitching three innings with a strikeout. MCLA would be first to score after a home run in the bottom of the second inning. Then in the top of the third, the Blazers would tie the game after senior outfielder Kyla Cook (Taunton, Mass.) would reach base on a fielder's choice and sophomore outfielder/pitcher Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) would cross the plate. The two sides would continue to battle, but in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Trailblazers would unload the bats scoring 15 runs. During the inning, sophomore infielder/pitcher Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) would come into the game to relieve Hebert for the inning, striking out one batter. In the top of the fifth, Elms would try to rally back, scoring three runs. Sophomore utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) would score on a passed ball. Cook would then drive in Dykema after reaching base on an error. A couple of batters later, Cook would score after senior outfielder Sarah Fortini (Florida, Mass.) struck out on a dropped ball and would be out at first base. Unfortunately, MCLA would record the third out to take Game 1, 16-4.

Game 2
The second game would see Zakaitis in the circle for the Blazers, pitching three innings with a strikeout. The Trailblazers would be the first to score in the bottom of the first inning, but Elms would tie the game in the next half inning when Fortini would score on a passed ball. Then in the bottom of the second, MCLA answered back with eight runs. In the top of the third inning, the Blazers would score three runs when Dykema scored on a passed ball and senior infielder Danajah Stokes (Savannah, Ga.) would hit a two-run double to right field, driving in Fortini and graduate student catcher Kelsey Bennett (Granby, Mass.). In the bottom half of the inning, the Trailblazers would then score an additional four runs. The two intrastate foes would have a scoreless fourth inning, after Hebert would come into the game to relieve Zakaitis, pitching an inning with three strikeouts. Elms would score one run, when Stokes would single down the right field line to drive in Cook, but MCLA would secure the sweep 13-5.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Barthel: 0 for two, with two walks.

• Bennett: two and five, with a run scored and a walk.

• Cook: one and five, with two runs, two runs batted-in, and a walk.

• Dykema: would pitch an inning with a strikeout, and would go four and five with two runs scored, two walks, and a stolen base.

• Fortini: 0 for four, with two runs scored, two walks, and a stolen base.

• Hebert: would pitch four innings with four strikeouts, and would go 0 for two at the plate.

• Raymond: 0 for three, with a run scored and three walks.

• Stokes: two and five, with a double, three runs batted-in, a walk,and a stolen base.

• Zakaitis: would pitch three innings with a strikeout, and would go 0 for three with a run scored and walk.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will return to Cheryl R. Condon Field on Sunday, March 30th hosting Mitchell College for a conference doubleheader at 12 & 2 pm.

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