Softball Elminated by DWC at NECC Championship

WELLESLEY, Mass. – No. 3 Daniel Webster College held on for a 2-1 win over No. 2 Mitchell College in the semifinal round of the 2012 New England Collegiate Conference Softball Championship on Saturday afternoon, earning a date with three-time defending champion and top seed Lesley University in the title round.

Lauren Chesnulevich led DWC with a run scored and one driven in, and Amy Waller tripled and scored for the Eagles, which got a sparkling performance from starting pitcher Amanda Wilson. The senior struck out six in her complete game, scattering seven hits and allowing only an unearned run.

Freshman Dylan Riccardi went 2-for-3 for the Mariners, leading off the seventh inning with a double to give the Mariners a shot at tying the game in their final at bat. Classmate Lindsey Romagnino also went 2-for-3 in the loss.

The Eagles tallied three hits in the first on Mitchell starter Tricia Tomaselli, including a leadoff triple by Waller that saw the second baseman thrown out at home, but came away scoreless after stranding runners at the corners. Mitchell wasted no time taking advantage, with leadoff hitter Tiffany Person beating out a bunt single, advancing to third on a two-base throwing error and scoring on a sacrifice fly.

The 1-0 lead held until the third, when Waller led off with a walk and scored on a Chesnulevich double to left. The Eagles catcher then came around on a Chelsea Crawford single through the left side to take a 2-1 lead that held for the rest of the game.

Riccardi led off the seventh with a double to right and was lifted for pinch runner Shane'l Blount, who was sacrificed to third. With two outs and Blount on third, Person grounded to the hole on the right side, where Waller dove to her left and threw from her knees to beat the speedy Person and send the Eagles to the championship round.

Mitchell, which lost to Daniel Webster for the second time in as many days, ends the seson with an overall record of 21-15.