Pride Bring Home Pair of GNAC Wins

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Regis College softball doubled-up Elms College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader, earning 6-3 and 12-6 victories to complete the conference sweep. With the wins, the Pride improved to 6-10 in GNAC play and 13-19 overall.

Chloe Beland (Southborough, Mass.) and Mel Rees (Middleborough, Mass.) both went 3-4 in game one with Beland crossing the plate three times and bringing three runs in while Rees accounted for one RBI. Syndey Grund (Hamden, Conn.) went 2-2 at the plate, crossing home three times to go with one RBI. Gabriella Blanchard (North Haven, Conn.) got the win in the circle, pitching a complete game striking out four batters and giving up only three runs.

Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) led the offensive charge in game two, going 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBIs and a run scored. Samantha Kelepouris (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Blanchard each turned in two-hit performances, driving in two runs apiece. Kate Julian (Mendon, Mass.) earned the win in the circle, pitching five innings while striking out five and allowing three earned runs. Rees came in for the save, closing out the final two innings and surrendering just one run to seal the 12-6 victory.

Game One

• A defensive battle unfolded over the first two innings, with just one hit allowed. However, a two-out rally in the top of the third was capped by a Beland single that brought Sydney Grund around to score, giving the Pride a narrow 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.
• The Blazers made their move an inning later, when a two-RBI single would give them the 2-1 edge after four.
• The Pride wasted no time reclaiming the lead, stringing together three singles from Grund, Beland, and Rees to bring in three runs. A fielder's choice then allowed Lynsey Kay (Bellingham, Mass.) to score, giving the Pride a 5-2 advantage.
• In the top of the sixth, Beland delivered again with her third RBI of the day on a single to right field, extending the lead to 6-3. From there, the Pride's defense shut the door to secure the 6-3 win.

Game Two

• The Pride struck early in the top of the second, stringing together three doubles from Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.), Kelepouris, and Burke to account for three of their four runs in the inning. The Blazers responded in the bottom half, cutting the lead in half to make it a 4-2 game after two.
• Regis extended its lead in the fifth, highlighted by a Burke triple that brought Zancan home and stretched the advantage to 8-2. Elms responded in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a hit and a Pride miscue to bring in three runs and narrow the gap to 8-5.
• The Pride sealed the game in the seventh when Burke ripped her second triple of the game, driving in three more runs. Beland followed with a single to score Burke and push the lead to 12-5. The Blazers added one more in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough, as Regis held on for the 12-6 win to complete the sweep.

Inside the Numbers:

• Gabriella Blanchard earned her sixth win of the season in game one, while Kate Julian secured her fourth victory in game two.
• Bianca Burke's five RBIs in game two marked a single-game career high for the senior, while her four hits matched her season best.
• Chloe Beland's three RBIs tied her career high, previously set earlier this season against Lasell.
•  Madi Zancan recorded her first double of the season in game two.

Up Next:

The Pride will host their final regular-season doubleheader this Sunday, April 27, against Albertus Magnus, where they will also honor their seniors. First pitch is scheduled for noon.