Trailblazers Open Shewcraft Softball Field with Sweep of Elms College

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Softball team christened their new turf field at the Shewcraft Field this afternoon when they welcomed Elms College for a non-conference twinbill against the Blazers. Madyson Torres hit the first home run at the new field, and the Trailblazers' 15-run fourth inning secured the day's first win. The second game saw MCLA again slug their way to a double-digit run total that was powered by a home run by Ella Staffier.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
• Game #1: Elms 4, MCLA 16
• Game #2: Elms 5, MCLA 13
• Records: Elms College Blazers 2-14 (GNAC 0-0) | MCLA Trailblazers 6-6 (MASCAC 0-0)
• Series History: MCLA leads the all-time series 18-4, including a sweep by the Trailblazers last season by scores of 11-2 and 12-8 in Chicopee on April 2, 2024. MCLA also won the teams' first-ever meeting by the score of 21-11 on April 16, 1988, in North Adams.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Game #1
  • Senior Madyson Torres (Dripping Springs, TX) started the scoring in the bottom of the second, battling through a ten-pitch at-bat before homering to left field on a 2-2 pitch to put the Trailblazers ahead 1-0.
  • Elms would scratch that run back in the top of the next inning, making the most of two walks, a single by Amanda Raymond, and an RBI fielder's choice by Amanda Raymond to even the score.
  • The fourth inning would see the Trailblazers explode for 15 runs on eight hits. The big plays were two RBI singles from junior outfielder Alexandra Espel (Acra, NY), junior second baseman Ella Staffier (Marshfield, MA), and first-year first baseman Allee George (Bennington, VT). Sophomore outfielder Samantha Wheeler (Agawam, MA) added on a two-run double, just ahead of a sacrifice fly from junior Hailey Peabody (West Springfield, MA) that capped the barrage.
  • The Blazers mounted a mini rally in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs without the benefit of a hit.
  • Sophomore pitcher Julia Johansen (Pittsfield, MA) went the distance for MCLA, allowing only one earned run on one hit while striking out four to advance her record to 3-2. Elms' starting pitcher Reece Hebert took the loss to fall to 2-5.
• Game #2
  • In game two, the teams traded runs early for the second game in a row. In the bottom of the first, graduate student outfielder Maddy Teta (Troy, NY) manufactured a run on her own for the Trailblazers, starting with a two-out single through the right side of the infield. She then aggressively took two bases on a wild pitch to move to third before scampering home on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead.
  • In the top of the second inning, the Blazers also manufactured a run, loading the bases on three walks, and Sarah Fortini then came home on a passed ball.
  • At the bottom of the frame, MCLA again broke out its scoring bats, plating eight runs. The starting pitcher for the second game, Peabody, helped herself with a bases loaded two run double back through the middle diamond that went all the way to the wall. Staffier then followed that up with a three-run no-doubt homerun to left field. Espel capped the eight-run rally with a bloop single into left-centerfield that scored George.
  • Elms reclaimed three of the runs in the top of the third inning, plating three runs on only three hits, capped by a two-run double to right by Danajah Stokes.
  • MCLA saw the Blazers' three spot and responded with another crooked number inning, plating four runs on a two-run double by Staffier, an RBI single by George, and a sacrifice fly by Torres.
  • The Blazers attempted to prevent a five-inning mercy ruling, plating one run in the top of the fifth inning on a one-out single down the right field line by Stokes, before Peabody buckled down to induce a pop out to the second baseman and then inducing a game ending strike out to close out the 13-5 win.
  • Peabody evened her record at 3-3, scattering seven hits over five innings for the Trailblazers. Elms' Kaelyn Zakaitis wore the loss, falling to 0-6.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The 16 runs in the first game of the afternoon was the most runs the Trailblazers have scored since they scored 18 runs in the 2023 season finale against Salem State, picking up an 18-8 win on May 6^th, 2023 and one run greater than the 15 total they scored on March 18^th against St. Norbert at the Space Coast Spring Games.
• The home run by Torres in the first game was her first since she homered in both ends of a doubleheader to close out the 2022 season versus Salem State.  

UP NEXT:

On Saturday, MCLA will be back in action when it plays host to Worcester State University at Shewcraft Field for a MASCAC matchup with the Lancers. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.

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