BLAZERS TAKE TWO FROM PRIDE

WESTON, Mass. – Elms College swept both parts of a New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader from host Regis College on Sunday afternoon in Weston, Mass. Elms (9-12, 8-4 NECC) took game one by a score of 2-0 before handing the Pride (9-17, 5-7 NECC) a 6-2 setback in the day's second game.

The Blazers saw both of their runs come from senior Leah Spring (South Hadley, Mass.) early in the game. Spring opened up the game by singling to the right side and stealing second base shortly after. Rachel Butt (Agawam, Mass.) would ground out to second base, advancing Spring to second on the play. A single to right field by Sarah Buckley (Wilbraham, Mass.) was enough to bring Spring to home plate for the early 1-0 lead.

The Pride conjured up their greatest scoring chance of the game in the bottom of the second inning after opening up with back-to-back hits from Jill Bruning (Medford, Mass.) and Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.). Bruning singled to center field, while Cuozzo followed with a single to first base. Raegan Heck (Phillipston, Mass.) advanced Cuozzo to second base and reached first on a fielder's choice herself, but Kara Donovan (Woburn, Mass.), pinch running for Bruning, was out at third on the play. Pitcher Jessica Colson (Agawam, Mass.) was able to strike out consecutive hitters to put the brakes on the Pride's momentum and close out the inning.

Spring was at it again in the top of the third inning, sending a bomb to left field for a triple. Alexandra Bonavita (Agawam, Mass.) followed with a well-placed bunt down the first base line to plate Spring and but Elms on top 2-0. Jessica Colson made the two runs stand up as the Blazers held on for the 2-0 win.

Jill Bruning and Katie Cuozzo registered the only two hits of the contest for the Pride. Haley Fountain (Warren, Mass.) suffered the setback, scattering five hits over seven innings of work and giving up a pair of runs with seven strikeouts. Leah Spring and Sarah Buckley combined for all five hits for the Blazers with Spring scoring both runs. Jessica Colson ended the day with seven strikeouts and allowed only two hits in a complete game effort.

Regis struck first in the second game of the day as Katie Cuozzo drove in Samantha Bliss (Framingham, Mass.) with an RBI single in the bottom of the first to put the Pride on top 1-0. The Blazers responded in the top of the second as Taylor Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) tripled to the gap in right center, scoring Buckley and knotting the game at 1-1.

Bliss put the Pride on top in the Regis half of the second, driving in Laurie DeMars (Maynard, Mass.) with an RBI single through the left side, giving Regis a 1-0 lead. Katie Cuozzo stepped onto the mound to open the third inning and kept the Blazers off the board and not allowing a runner past second base.

Things changed in the top of the sixth as Abby Capone (Fitchburg, Mass.), Rachel Butt (Agawam, Mass.), and Sarah Buckley led off the inning with three-straight singles. Fountain relieved Cuozzo on the mound and was greeted by Caitlee Carrier (Charlestown, Mass.), who ripped a pinch-hit single to centerfield to tie the game at 2-2. After a force out at the plate by the Pride for the first out of the inning, Taylor Skinner hit a grounder to Michaela NeJaime (Sandisfield, Mass.) and the freshman came up throwing to home, but the throw could not be handled by the Regis catcher as the ball got away, allowing two runs to score. Kellie McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) followed with a two run single up the middle that found its way through the Regis defense and all the way to the fence, plating two more runs and giving Elms the 6-2 lead.

The Pride put runners on in both the sixth and seventh innings, but came up empty both times as Jamie Miner (Chicopee, Mass.) earned her fourth win of the season keeping the Pride off the scoreboard.

Kirbie Garvey (Littleton, Mass.), Samantha Bliss, Jill Bruning, and Katie Cuozzo each had two-hit games for the Pride with Emily Pickett (Wrentham, Mass.) and NeJaime adding the other two hits. Katie Cuozzo suffered the setback in relief, giving up five hits and three runs (one earned) in three innings of work.

Sarah Buckley led Elms with a 3-for-4 performance with a pair of runs scored, while Rachel Butt went 2-for-4 at the dish. Jamie Miner scattered seven hits over the final five innings for the win. Jessica Colson lasted the first wo innings and allowed two unearned runs on three hits.

Regis returns to action on Thursday afternoon when the Pride travels to Gordon College for a non-league doubleheader at 4:00 p.m. Elms will take on Smith College in a single game Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.