Softball Competes in Day 2 of Florida Action Against SUNY Cobleskill and Drew

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Elms College Softball team played against SUNY Cobleskill and Drew University as a part of the 36th Annual Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic at the Lee Health Sports Complex.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 0 | SUNY Cobleskill 13
Records: Blazers 0-3, 0-0 (GNAC) | Fighting Tigers 1-2, 0-0 (NAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 1 | Drew University 10
Records: Blazers 0-4, 0-0 (GNAC) | Rangers 4-0, 0-0 (LANDMARK)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
In the top of the first inning the Elms offense would see junior pitcher/utility player Caity Flynn (Colchester, Conn.) earn a walk, followed by a single by junior infielder/pitcher Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.). Dykema would steal second base, but the Blazers would not be able to score. In the bottom half of the inning, junior pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) would start in the circle for Elms, throwing one swinging strikeout. Unfortunately, SUNY Cobleskill would score three runs to take an early lead. In the second, sophomore pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) would reach base on an error committed by the shortstop, but the Blazers would be unable to score. Then, in the bottom of the second inning, the Fighting Tigers would add five more runs to their lead. In the top of the third inning, junior utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) would be walked, where she would advance to second base after a sacrifice bunt from Flynn, and would steal third base, but the Elms offense would once again be held scoreless. In the bottom half of the third, Dykema would relieve Zakaitis for the remainder of the game, striking out the second batter she faced looking and the Blazers defense would hold SUNY Cobleskill to a scoreless inning. Zakaitis and first year catcher/utility player Lizzie Jamrog (Suffield, Conn.) would lead off the top of the fourth inning with back-to-back singles to center field, but once again, the Blazers would be held to a scoreless inning. In the bottom half of the inning, the Fighting Tigers would score an additional five runs. In the top of the fifth inning, the Elms offense would have a final opportunity to score some runs, but they would not reach base, and SUNY Cobleskill would defeat the Blazers 13-0.

Game 2
Hebert would take the ball for Elms in the second game of the day, against Drew University. In the top of the first inning, Hebert would toss back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning scoreless. The Rangers defense would share a similar narrative and would have a scoreless inning of their own in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, Hebert would add two swinging strikeouts, but the Drew offense would score eight runs in the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, the Elms offense would continue to find it difficult to get on base. In the top of the third inning, the Rangers would add two more runs to their lead. Then in the bottom of the third, Flynn would hit a single, but she would not score during the inning. In the top of the fourth inning, Flynn would relieve Hebert in the circle. During the inning, Drew would hit a single and would try to steal second base, but Jamrog would throw down to Dykema and she would make the tag for the out. The Blazers defense would keep their efforts high and hold the Rangers offense to a second scoreless inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Dykema would start things off with a lead off single. Moments later, Dykema would steal second base and would be driven in by a single from Zakaitis. The inning would also see a single by Jamrog, but the Elms offense would be unable to produce more runs. In the fifth inning, both defenses would hold strong and keep the other from scoring, which would give the 10-1 victory to Drew.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dykema: two hits and a run scored with two stolen bases at the plate, and would pitch two innings with two strikeouts.

• Hebert: would pitch three innings with four strikeouts.

• Flynn: a hit and a walk at the plate, and would pitch two innings.

• Zakaitis: two hits and a run batted-in at the plate, and would pitch two innings with a strikeout.

• Raymond: a hit, a walk, with a double and a stolen base.

• Jamrog: two hits.

• Cullity: a walk

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will continue to compete in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Naples, Fla. on Wednesday, March 11th against Rockford University and Crown College, Minn. at 9 & 11 am at the North Collier Regional Park.

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