Trailblazers sweep Bay Path in nonconference softball action

LONGMEADOW, Mass.—The MCLA Softball team swept Bay Path University today in nonconference softball action. The Trailblazers won the opener 13-6 before taking the nightcap 11-6. With the wins MCLA improves to 6-12 while the Wildcats fall to 4-14.

Game One         MCLA 13             Bay Path 6

MCLA's Madison Teta got things started in the top of the 1^st as she singled, stole second and stole third before a Hailey Peabody base hit would bring her home to make it 1-0. After an Ella Staffier triple and Lidia Flores single, the Trailblazers would lead 3-0 after the top half of the first.

Bay Path would respond posting a run in each of their first three innings before a Grace Ramsey single in the bottom of the 4^th would bring home Caroline Austin to put the Wildcats up 4-3. One batter later Olivia Stebbins would single driving in Taylor Suffoletto and Ramsey to give the hosts a 6-3 lead after four.

The top of the 5^th would see the Trailblazers bat-around, spraying 7 hits and scoring nine runs to retake the lead, 12-6. Flores, Madyson Torres, Staffier, Ezmeralda Albright would all drive in a run along with Teta who drove in two, as well as stealing two more bases.

MCLA added one more on back-to-back doubles by Teta and Peabody in the top of the 7^th to make the final 13-6.

Game Two         MCLA 11             Bay Path 6

After reaching on a fielder's choice, it would be Peabody's aggressive baserunning that led to MCLA's first run in the nightcap. The first year would steal second and third, then score on an error to make it 1-0. Later in the inning Flores would single in Staffier and score herself before a double-steal by Albright and Justina Pardi gave the Trailblazers a 4-0 lead headed to the bottom of the 1^st.

As they had done in game one Bay Path answered, this time with 4 runs in the bottom of the 2^nd to tie things up. A bases loaded double by Madison Tessmer would clear the bases and a Madisyn Vera double would draw the Wildcats even after two.

An Isabelle Ferrara double would drive in Stebbins to give the hosts a short-lived 5-4 lead. But following a Teta sacrifice fly, Peabody stealing home and a Flores RBI single that brought home Staffier, a two-run homer by Albright would put MCLA up 9-5 after three and a half.

Bay Path would get one back in the 5^th but the Trailblazers would score two more in the 6^th and go on to take game two, 11-6.

The Wildcats will be off until next Monday when they host Fitchburg State. The Trailblazers will host Worcester State on Friday ina MASCAC doubleheader starting at 3pm.