Bats Power Softball to a Sweep of Wheelock

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team plated 28 runs on 26 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Wheelock College on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field, winning by final scores of 12-0 and 16-7.

The Mariners (13-13 overall, 10-2 NECC) extended their winning streak to six games and have won their last 10 conference games. Sophomore pitcher Tricia Tomaselli picked up both wins to improve to 5-6 on the season.

Mitchell will next play at Regis College on Saturday, April 21 at noon.

Game 1 – Mitchell 12, Wheelock 0 (5 innings)

Mitchell scored eight runs over the first two innings and pushed across four more in the fourth for good measure. A combined effort by Tomaselli and junior Tiffany Person inside the circle held the Wildcats to only one hit in the contest.

The Mariners wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the first inning. Person reached base with an infield single and stole second to move into scoring position. Senior Brittany Zaccaria followed with a single up the middle to drive in the first run. Mitchell also added runs on an error and a wild pitch to lead 3-0 after one.

Senior Stacey Suplicki and freshman Dylan Riccardi each delivered two-run singles in the second inning while Tomaselli added an RBI single. Person, Zaccaria and freshman Lindsey Romagnino all drove in runs with singles in the fifth as the Mariners upped the lead to 12-0.

Kim Perault had the lone hit for Wheelock, an infield single in the first inning. Ashley Quan threw 4.0 innings and allowed 12 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits while walking five.

Person and Zaccaria finished with three hits apiece for the Mariners. Tomaselli pitched 3.0 scoreless innings and struck out two while Person worked 2.0 innings and struck out three.

Game 2 – Mitchell 16, Wheelock 7 (5 innings)

Mitchell vaulted out to a 13-0 lead after three innings and looked primed for another shutout, but Wheelock exploded for a seven-run fifth inning to stay in the game. The Mariners then plated three runs in the bottom of the frame to invoke the eight-run rule for the second straight game.

Mitchell scored four runs in the first inning thanks to a two-run double by junior Meghan Burke and a two-run single by Riccardi. The Mariners then pounded out six runs on six hits in the second frame, with Riccardi driving in two more with a single up the middle and Suplicki and Tomaselli each supplying RBI singles. Finally, a pair of fielding errors in the third inning proved costly for the Wildcats as the Mariners tacked on three more runs to go up 13-0.

Wheelock had only two hits in the game before breaking out for seven runs on five hits in the fifth. The Wildcats loaded the bases with only one out before Jacky Hull brought home the first run with a single to right field. Sara Buscemi followed with a walk to force in another run.

The Mariners then went back to Tomaselli—who started the game but moved to the field after three innings—to get the final two outs. But Perault smashed a double down the left field line to bring in two more runs, and Molly Rose kept things rolling with an RBI single to right. Wheelock plated its final runs on a sacrifice fly to left by Nicole Perullo, with Perault scoring from third and Rose from second thanks to a throwing error.

The Mariners ended the game with three runs in the home half of the fifth. Mitchell plated two runs on a dropped pop up and ended the game when Person scored from third base on a wild pitch.

Riccardi went 2-for-3 with four RBI while Burke finished 1-for-3 with three RBI. Tomaselli worked 3.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and struck out four.

Rose finished with two hits to lead the Wildcats. Perullo pitched 4.2 innings and allowed 16 runs (10 earned) on 14 hits and struck out four while walking seven.