O'Neil, Fiederlein Earn NECC Weekly Honors

NEW LONDON, Conn. – A pair of Mitchell College softball players were honored by the New England Collegiate Conference on Monday morning.

Sophomore Shannon O'Neil was named the NECC Player of the Week while freshman Brittany Fiederlein repeated as the NECC Pitcher of the Week. The duo led Mitchell to a 4-0 week that included conference sweeps of Regis College and Bay Path College.

O'Neil batted a team-high .692 with a home run, four doubles and six RBI last week to lead Mitchell at the plate. She recorded multiple hits in all four games and slugged 1.231 for the week. In a doubleheader at Regis she collected four hits, walked twice and drove in a run. Against Bay Path she went 5-for-7 with five RBI and swatted her first career homer to go along with a pair of doubles.

Fiederlein made three appearances inside the circle for the Mariners last week and went 2-0 while earning her first career save. She allowed only one run on three hits in a 6-1 victory at Regis, striking out three without issuing a walk. She then recorded her first career shutout with 5.0 scoreless innings against Bay Path, striking out four while allowing only two hits. She also pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the second game against Bay Path and picked up the save. In 13.0 innings she allowed only one run on six hits and struck out seven.

O'Neil, who's seen action at first base and designated player this season, earned NECC honors for the first time in her career. She currently leads the Mariners and ranks second in the conference with a .418 batting average with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBI through 20 games.

Fiederlein has been honored by the NECC each of the last three weeks, as she was also the NECC Rookie of the Week on March 24. In 13 appearances she has posted a 6-5 record with a 2.03 ERA over 69.0 innings. She currently leads the conference in wins and ranks second in both ERA and innings pitched.

Mitchell (9-12 overall, 5-1 NECC) will next host Newbury College for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 12 at noon.