Softball Splits With Regis

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team opened up New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) play on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader split against Regis College.

The Pride (1-9 overall, 1-1 NECC) came away with their first win of the season in the opening game, scoring twice in the first inning en route to a 2-1 victory. The Mariners (2-8 overall, 1-1 NECC) then bounced back to win the second game by a 9-1 final in six innings.

Mitchell will next host Lyndon State College on Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. Regis returns to action at home against Pine Manor College on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Game 1 – Regis 2, Mitchell 1

Both teams benefitted from solid pitching performances in the opener, as Regis starter Haley Fountain gave up only three hits while Mitchell starter Tricia Tomaselli yielded five. Each pitcher recorded four strikeouts in the game as well, with Fountain issuing only one walk and Tomaselli giving up two.

The difference came early on as Tomaselli struggled with her control to start the game. A double by Kara Donovan and a single by Fountain gave the Pride runners at the corners with only one out. While Tomaselli didn't give up another hit in the frame, a passed ball and two wild pitches were enough to bring both runners around to score.

Mitchell trailed 2-0 until scratching across a run in the third inning. Freshman Emily Morenzoni got things started with a single to left and moved to third on a single by sophomore Lindsey Romagnino. Morenzoni later scored on a passed ball that also moved Romagnino to third base, but Fountain escaped the jam by getting the next two batters to ground out.

Fountain closed out the game strong, allowing only one hit over the final four innings. She also retired the final seven batters she faced to earn the first victory of her collegiate career.

Donovan finished with two hits for the Pride while Morenzoni had a pair for the Mariners.

Game 2 – Mitchell 9, Regis 1 (six innings)

Freshman Kaisea Caramante picked up her first career win in the circle for the Mariners, throwing 6.0 innings and allowing only one run on six hits. Regis starter Katie Cuozzo lasted 4.0 innings and gave up six runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out four.

Regis plated its lone run of the game in the first inning. The Pride put two runners on—both on walks—before Alyssa McKinnon hit a single to right-center to make it a 1-0 game.

Mitchell answered back with two runs in the home half of the first. Both runs scored due to Regis fielding errors, the first of five miscues for the Pride in the contest.

The Mariners took a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning that was highlighted by an RBI double by Romagnino. Mitchell then added three more runs in the fifth. Junior Ariel Hallisey led off the inning with a single and later scored on a base hit by freshman Shannon O'Neil. Classmate Alexandra Blanchette also plated two runs with a single up the middle to put the Mariners on top 8-1.

Mitchell tacked on the final run in the sixth to invoke the eight-run mercy rule. Senior Tiffany Person ended the game with an RBI single to center that scored sophomore Shelby Patton, who led off the frame with a pinch-hit double.

Hallisey and Person each finished with a pair of hits in the game for the Mariners.