Softball Celebrates Senior Day to Conclude 2025 Season

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Softball team hosted Regis College for a conference doubleheader and their annual Senior Day Thursday evening.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 3 | Regis College 6
Records: Blazers 6-31, 1-16 (GNAC) | Pride 12-19, 5-10 (GNAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 6 | Regis College 12
Records: Blazers 6-32, 1-17 (GNAC) | Pride 13-19, 6-10 (GNAC)

PRIOR TO THE GAME

The Elms College Softball team hosted their annual Senior Day, where they honored their four seniors; outfielder Sarah Fortini (Florida, Mass.), infielder Katie Cosmos (Wolcott, Conn.), infielder Danajah Stokes (Savannah, Ga.), and outfielder Kyla Cook (Taunton, Mass.), and two graduate students; infielder Aixa Lopez-Reyes (Salinas, P.R.) and catcher Kelsey Bennett (Granby, Mass.).

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) would pitch seven innings, with four scoreless, for Elms in the opening game of the doubleheader. The two conference foes would not score a run in the first two innings, but the Blazers would record the first hit of the game, after Cosmos would hit a single to left center field in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third inning, Regis would take the first lead of the contest after driving in a run. Zakaitis would hit a single to right field, but their efforts would be unsuccessful in tying the game. In the bottom of the fourth, Cook and Bennett would both hit singles and advance to scoring position. Then after Fortini would be walked to load the bases, Stokes would hit a single down the left field line to drive in Cook and Cosmos to take the lead 2-1. In the top of the fifth inning, the Pride would take back the lead and score four runs. Then in the bottom half of the inning, Cosmos would drive-in sophomore utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) with a single. But as the game continued, Regis would add a run and Stokes would add a second single, but the Elms offense would not be able to score more runs and the Pride would win the first game 6-3.

Game 2
In Game 2, sophomore pitcher/infielder Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) would take the ball for the Blazers, also pitching seven innings, with three strikeouts and four scoreless innings. After stopping the Regis offense in order, Raymond and Dykema would both hit singles in the bottom of the first inning, but the score would remain scoreless. Then in the top of the second inning the Pride would score first, adding four runs to the first lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Cosmos would hit a leadoff single and would score after Bennett hit a sacrifice fly, Stokes and Lopez-Reyes would hit back-to-back singles, and Fortini would score after an error by the Regis catcher to bring the score 4-2. As the game continued, Cook would hit a single, but neither team would score until the fifth inning, when the Pride added four more runs to their tally. In the bottom half of the inning, Elms would see Zakaitis, Dykema, and Cook all reach base, with Cook's single being her 100th career hit. Cosmos would then hit a two-run double down the left field line, and she would score after Bennett would reach base on an error. The sixth inning would be scoreless for both teams, but Regis would score an additional four runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Blazers would try to rally back after Dykema would hit a leadoff ground rule double to left center field and would be driven-in by Cosmos, but the Pride would take the 12-6 victory over Elms.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Bennett: one for six, with a run batted-in and a run scored.

• Cook: three for seven, with two runs scored and would reach 100 career hits.

• Cosmos: four for seven, with a double, four runs batted-in, and two runs scored.

• Dykema: two for seven, with a double and two runs scored at the plate, and would pitch seven innings, with three strikeouts and four scoreless innings.

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

• Lopez-Reyes: one for three.

• Raymond: one for seven, with a run scored, a stolen base, and a walk.

• Stokes: three for six, with two runs batted-in.

• Zakaitis: would pitch seven innings with four scoreless innings, and would go two for six at the plate.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team has concluded the 2025 season and look forward to competing in 2026.

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