Softball Hosts Mitchell for Conference Doubleheader

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Softball team hosted Mitchell College for a conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 2 | Mitchell College 5
Records: Blazers 0-12, 0-3 (GNAC) | Mariners 8-11, 2-3 (GNAC)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 2 | Mitchell College 14
Records: Blazers 0-13, 0-4 (GNAC) | Mariners 9-11, 3-3 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Junior pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.) would start the first game of the conference doubleheader for Elms. In the top of the first inning, Mitchell would be the first to score, adding a run during the inning, but Zakaitis would record a swinging strikeout to keep the Mariners at the one run in the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, junior infielder/pitcher Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) would hit a single to second base, but the Blazers would not be able to tie the game in the inning. In the top of the second inning, Mitchell would have a runner on base with one out, then a ground ball would be hit to first year infielder Ashlyn Cullity (Wilmington, Mass.), who would toss the ball to Dykema at second base and then back towards first base to first year infielder Reagan Giguere (Sutton, Mass.) for the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. In the bottom of the second, the Elms offense would have runners reach base, with singles by first year outfielder Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.) and Cullity, and Giguere reaching base on a fielder's choice, but the Blazers would be held to another scoreless inning. In the top of the third inning, the Mariners would add a run to the scoreboard, Zakaitis would toss two strikeouts for the first and final out of the inning. Then in the bottom half of the third, Dykema would drive a single up the middle and would steal second base, but the Mitchell defense would not allow Elms to score a run in the inning. In the fourth and fifth innings, the Mariners offense would add to their lead by adding three runs. In the top of the fifth, sophomore pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) would come into the game to relieve Zakaitis, where the Blazers defense would be able to record three-straight outs to end the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore infielder Nyah Colon (Springfield, Mass.) would hit a lead off single to left field, followed by a single to center field by first year catcher/utility player Jordyn Rossi (West Springfield, Mass.) and she would steal second base moments later. Then to end a ten-pitch at-bat, Dykema would hit a two-run single past first base to drive in Colon and Rossi to put Elms on the board. The inning would also see Zakaitis hit a single to right center field and Glover earn a walk, but the Blazers would not add any additional runs in the inning. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Colon and Hebert would hit back-to-back doubles to left field, with Colon's landing just inside the foul line and Hebert's going to left center field, but once again, Mitchell would be able keep the Blazers from cutting the deficit further. In the seventh inning, Hebert would throw a swinging strikeout and Dykema would hit a single past second base, but the Mariners would take the first game of the day with a final score of 5-2.

Game 2
In the second game of the afternoon, Dykema would step in the pitcher's circle for the Blazers. In the top of the first inning, Dykema would toss two swinging strikeouts, but Mitchell would score the first run of the game. In the bottom half of the inning, junior utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) would reach base on an error committed by the shortstop, and she would score after Zakaitis would hit a single up the middle to tie the game, 1-1. In the top of the second inning, Dykema would strikeout the lead off batter swinging, but the Mariners would add three runs to take the lead. In the bottom of the third, Giguere would earn a walk, followed by a bunt single by Cullity. Then Hebert would ground out at first base, but Giguere would score for the second run of the game for Elms. In the third inning, Mitchell would get runners on base, but the Blazers defense would hold them scoreless and Dykema would end the inning with a strikeout. In the top of the fourth inning, Dykema would toss another strikeout, but the Mariners would add three runs, which would then see junior pitcher/utility player Caity Flynn (Colchester, Conn.) come into the game to relieve Dykema. In the bottom of the fourth, Flynn would hit a lead off single to left field, but the Elms offense would not be able to score. In the top of the fifth inning, Flynn would toss a swinging strikeout, but Mitchell would score two runs in the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Raymond would hit a single up the middle, but once again, the Blazers would not be able to capitalize. In the seventh inning, the Mariners would add a run, which would then see Hebert come back to the pitcher's circle to relieve Flynn. Unfortunately, the Mitchell offense would score four more runs to secure the 14-2 defeat of Elms and win both games.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Hebert: a hit, with a double, and a run batted-in at the plate, and would pitch three and ⅔  innings with a strikeout.

• Dykema: four hits, two runs batted-in, and a stolen base at the plate, would pitch three and ⅔ innings with five strikeouts, and would be involved in a double play in the field

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

• Cullity: two hits at the plate and would be involved in a double play in the field.

• Giguere: a run scored and a walk at the plate and would be involved in a double play in the field.

• Flynn: a hit and would pitch one and ⅔ innings with a strikeout.

• Colon: two hits, with a double, and a run scored.

• Raymond: two hits and a run scored.

• Rossi: a hit, a run scored, and a stolen base.

• Glover: a hit and a walk.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will host Fitchburg State University in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, March 31st at 2 & 4 pm at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

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