Softball Splits Home Opener Against Bay Path

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Softball team hosted Bay Path University in a non-conference doubleheader for their home opener of the 2025 season Thursday afternoon at Cheryl R. Condon Field.

BASICS
Game 1
Score: Elms College 6 | Bay Path University 4
Records: Blazers 1-8, 0-0 (GNAC) | Wildcats 2-9, 0-0 (USCAA)

Game 2
Score: Elms College 2 | Bay Path University 6
Records: Blazers 1-9, 0-0 (GNAC) | Wildcats 3-9, 0-0 (USCAA)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Elms would begin the afternoon with first year pitcher Reece Hebert (North Haven, Conn.) in the circle earning two strikeouts in the first inning, but Bay Path would score four times during that inning as well, including a home run hit to center field. Then in the bottom of the first, sophomore utility player Amanda Raymond (Auburn, Maine) would hit a leadoff inside-the-park home run. Later in the inning, graduate student catcher Kelsey Bennett (Granby, Mass.) would hit a double, but the Wildcats would record the final out of the inning before she could score. For the next inning and a half, both sides would struggle to score due to strong defensive efforts, but in the bottom of the third, the Blazers would score three runs to tie the game 4-4. The inning would begin with a lead off single by sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaelyn Zakaitis (Amherst, Mass.), followed by a single and a stolen base by Raymond. Zakaitis would score during the next at bat when sophomore pitcher/infielder Jill Dykema (Preston, Conn.) would hit a single past the third baseman. Raymond would later score after a triple by senior outfielder Kyla Cook (Tauton, Mass.) would hit a triple to right field and she would score after a sacrifice fly out by Bennett. The intrastate opponents would continue their efforts to score the go-ahead run, including a single by first year utility player Sydney Barthel (Windsor Locks, Conn.). Then in the bottom of the fifth inning, Elms would score two more runs to earn the lead, after Raymond and Dykema would both score after Cook would hit a single to center field and the center fielder would commit a fielding error. Bay Path would continue to try to tie the game, but the Blazers would shut down their offense with two final shutout innings to win their first game of the 2025 season, 6-4.

Game 2
The second game Zakaitis would take the ball, pitching five innings with a strikeout. In the top of the first inning, the Wildcats would score once on a sacrifice fly, but the Elms defense would put on a strong showing to keep the remainder of the inning scoreless. In the bottom half of the inning, Raymond would hit a leadoff single, but the Blazers would not be able to capitalize, keeping the score 1-0. The two sides would both put on great offensive efforts, including singles by Bennett, senior outfielder Sarah Fortini (Florida, Mass.), and Cook, along with Fortini and Bennett reaching base on a fielder's choice, but neither would score until the top of the fifth inning after the Wildcats would score a run. In the top of the sixth inning, Hebert would return to the circle to relieve Zakaitis, but Bay Path would score four more runs, to extend their lead 6-0. In the bottom half of the inning, Elms would try to rally back, as Cook and Bennett would earn back-to-back walks and both would score after Barthel would hit a two-run double to center field, but the Wildcats would secure the victory of Game 2 6-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Barthel: two for six, with a double and two runs batted-in.

• Bennett: two for four, with a double, a run scored, a run batted-in, and a walk.

• Cook: three for five, with a triple, three runs batted-in, two runs scored, and a walk.

• Dykema: two for six, with a run scored and a run batted-in.

• Fortini: two for six.

• Hebert: would pitch a combined nine innings with six strikeouts and seven scoreless innings to earn the win in Game 1, and would go 0 for four at the plate.

• Raymond: three for seven, with an inside-the-park home run, three runs scored, a run batted-in, and a stolen base.

• Zakaitis: would pitch five innings in Game 2 with a strikeout and three scoreless innings, and would go two for five at the plate, with a run scored.

UP NEXT: The Elms Softball team will return to Cheryl R. Condon Field on Saturday, March 22nd hosting Vermont State University-Johnson for a doubleheader at 12 & 2 pm.

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