Softball Loses in a Tough Battle Against Anna Maria in Home Opener

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Softball team hosted Anna Maria College for a non-conference doubleheader and their home opener of the 2026 season on Thursday afternoon at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 8 | Anna Maria College 13
Records: Blazers 0-6, 0-0 (GNAC) | AMCats 6-5, 0-0 (MASCAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 2 | Anna Maria College 17
Records: Blazers 0-7, 0-0 (GNAC) | AMCats 7-5, 0-0 (MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Sophomore pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) would pitch for Elms in the first game of the home-opening doubleheader. In the top of the first inning, Anna Maria would get on the scoreboard first with a one-run double, but Hebert would end the inning with a swinging strikeout. In the bottom of the first, junior utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) would reach base on an error committed by the first baseman, followed by junior pitcher/utility player Caity Flynn (Colchester, Conn.) reaching base on a fielder's choice. Shortly thereafter, junior infielder/pitcher Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) would hit a triple to right field that would drive in Flynn, and Dykema would score shortly when junior pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) would ground out to the second baseman to take the lead. The Blazers defense would hold the AMCats to a scoreless inning in the top of the second. In the bottom half of the inning, first year infielder Ashlyn Cullity (Wilmington, Mass.) would earn a walk and would score after Hebert would rip a single past the first baseman to extend their lead to 3-1. Then in the top of the third inning, the AMC offense would take control of the momentum of the opening game, after they would score four runs. The Elms defense would be able to end the inning after Hebert would toss another swinging strikeout and would end the inning with a relay from Zakaitis to Hebert to first year catcher/utility player Jordyn Rossi (West Springfield, Mass.) for the third out to end the inning. In the bottom of the third, Dykema would hit a double to right center field, steal third base, and would be driven in by Zakaitis to bring the to 5-4, AMCats. In the top of the fourth inning, Zakaitis would relieve Hebert in the circle, she would record a swinging strikeout, but Anna Maria would add five runs in the inning. In the bottom of the third, Cullity would hit a single, but the Blazers would not be able to score in the inning. In the top of the fifth inning, the AMCats would add a run to their end of the scoreboard. In the bottom half of the inning, the Blazers offense would create a rally, when Raymond and Flynn would both earn walks, followed by a single by Dykema. Raymond would score when Zakaitis would hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Shortly thereafter, Rossi would hit a single and would advance to second base, which would bring Flynn and Dykema across the plate. Elms would score their last run of the inning when first year outfielder Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.) would hit a single back to the pitcher and Rossi would be able to score, to bring the score to 10-8, AMCats. Zakaitis would start the sixth inning with a swinging strikeout, but the AMC offense would continue to find ways to score and would add one run in the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Blazers would not be able to reach base. In the seventh, the AMCats would score a run and would keep Elms from reaching base again to defeat the Blazers 13-8 in the first game of the doubleheader.

Game 2
In the second game of the afternoon, Dykema would take the ball for Elms. Unfortunately, the Anna Maria bats would continue to stay hot, with a lead off triple and would tally their first run in the next at bat, but Dykema would end the inning with back-to-back swinging strikeouts. In the bottom of the first inning, Raymond would earn a walk and would steal second base, but the Blazers would not be able to earn a run in the inning. In the top of the second, Dykema would strike out a batter looking, but the AMCats would be able to add another run. In the top of the third inning, Dykema would strike out two more batters, but the Anna Maria bats would add three runs to their lead, 5-0. In the bottom of the third inning, Hebert and Raymond would earn walks, followed by a Flynn-single. Hebert would score shortly thereafter after Dykema would hit a single to left field and as would Raymond after another Zakaitis sacrifice fly out. In the fourth and fifth innings, the AMCats would score two runs, but Dykema would add a swinging strikeout. Then in the top of the sixth inning, Flynn would relieve Dykema in the pitcher's circle. Unfortunately, AMC would add nine runs. Dykema would return to pitch for the Blazers for the final two outs, but the AMCats would add one last run to beat Elms 17-2 for the second game of the day.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dykema: four hits, with a single, a double, and a triple, three runs scored, two runs batted-in at the plate, with a stolen base, and would pitch five and ⅔ innings with six strikeouts.

• Flynn: two runs scored, a hit, and a walk at the plate, and would pitch ⅓ innings with a strikeout.

• Hebert: a hit, a run scored, a run batted-in, and two walks at the plate, and would pitch three innings with two strikeouts

• Zakaitis: four runs batted-in at the plate, and would pitch four innings with two strikeouts

• Raymond: two runs scored, three walks, and a stolen base.

• Rossi: a run scored, a hit, and two runs batted-in.

• Cullity: a run scored, a hit, and a walk.

• Glover: a hit and run batted-in.

• Giguere: a walk.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will host Emmanuel College in their conference opening doubleheader on Saturday, March 21st at 2 & 4 pm at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

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