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 1st 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 4th 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 5th 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 7th 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 1st.
As they had done in game one Bay Path answered, this time with 4 runs in the bottom of the 2nd 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 5th but the Trailblazers would score two more in the 6th 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.