Softball sweeps twilight doubleheader against Elms

HOLYOKE, Mass.— The MCLA Softball team got two strong pitching performances tonight by Lidia Flores and Sarah Williams as the Trailblazers swept Elms College in a doubleheader at Holyoke High School. MCLA came from behind to take the opener 9-4 and shut the Blazers down late in game two to earn a 6-2 win. With the sweep MCLA improves to 4-10 while the Blazers fall to 0-8.

Game One         MCLA 9               Elms 4

Down 4-2 after four innings of play, MCLA would score five runs in the top of the 5^th and a couple of insurance runs late to take game one, 9-4.

After trading runs in the 1^st and falling behind 2-1 after three-and-a-half, Elms would score 3 runs on three hits in the bottom of the 4^th to go ahead 4-2.

MCLA would have a big response in the top of the 5^th as a Hailey Peabody (2-for-5, 3 RBIs) double and Justina Pardi (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) base hit would each drive home a pair of runs as part of five-run inning for the Trailblazers.

Another Peabody hit in the 6^th would bring home Madison Teta (1-for-3, 3 R) and a Natalie Rich pinch hit single in the 7^th that scored Pardi would clinch the 9-4 win for the Trailblazers.

MCLA would steal an impressive 10 bases in the game including 4 by Kristie Zator, 3 by Teta, 2 by Maggie Closinski and one by Peabody.

Jayden Dow (L, 0-6) would go the distance taking the loss for the Blazers allowing 8 earned runs on 12 hits. Lidia Flores (W, 2-3) would earn her second win allowing 4 earned runs and nine hits while striking out four.

Game Two         MCLA 6               Elms 2

A Kristie Zator (2-for-4, 3 RBIs) RBI double that brought in Hailey Peabody (2-for-4) would break a scoreless tie in the top of the 3^rd but Elms would tie things up in the home half to make it 1-1.

MCLA would score twice in the top of the 4^th as Ezmeralda Albright (1-for-3, RBI) would double in Lidia Flores (1-for-2) and a Justina Pardi flyball to left field would score Sarah McMahon (2-for-3, 2 R) to make it 3-1.

The Blazers would get one back in the bottom half of the 4^th but the Trailblazers would put the game away in the top of the 6^th scoring three runs as they took advantage of four walks and a passed ball to make it 6-2.

MCLA starting pitcher Sarah Williams (W, 2-3) would pitch a complete game allowing only one earned run on four hits striking out three. Williams also retired the last 10 batters she faced. Three Elms pitchers would take the mound in the nightcap but starter Jayden Dow (L, 0-7) would endure the loss.

Elms will next travel to Bay Path College on Thursday while MCLA opens up MASCAC play this Saturday at 12:30pm when they travel to Bridgewater State to take on the Bears.