Softball Stays Hot at Bay Path
LONGMEADOW, Mass. - The Mitchell College softball team stayed red hot with a pair of wins at Bay Path University on Sunday afternoon, winning by final scores of 4-1 in extra innings and 12-1 in five in New England Collegiate Conference play.
Mitchell, which extended its winning streak to eight, improved to 8-10 overall and 8-0 in the league. Brittany Fiederlein picked up another pair of wins inside the circle while her teammates provided plenty of run support.
Mitchell will next play at Fitchburg State University on Wednesday, April 15 at 3:00 p.m.
Game 1 - Mitchell, 4, Bay Path 1 (8 innings)
The first game of the doubleheader was a pitching duel for the first seven innings, with both hurlers only giving up one run apiece. In the top of the third, Nia Brown scored an unearned run for the Mariners after a free trip to first base. Bay Path answered in the bottom of the fourth when Lauren Vallee launched her second collegiate homer over the left field fence.
With the score tied at 1-1 after seven, runners were placed on second base in the eighth as the international tie-breaker rule was enacted. Lehayla Cruz took her spot in scoring position and came across with the go-head run on a one-out double down the left field line by Samantha DelConte. Later in the frame, a single by Shannon O'Neil plated a pair of insurance runs to give the Mariners a 4-1 advantage.
Fiederlein recorded three quick outs in the home half of the eighth to notch the win. She gave up one run while fanning a career-high 13 batters and didn't issue a walk.
Bay Path pitcher Sarah Paskiewicz suffered the loss and gave up only two earned runs while striking out two batters.
Game 2 - Mitchell 12, Bay Path 1 (5 innings)
Mitchell came out strong in the second game and scored three runs in the second and six in the third before adding three more in the fifth to cut the game short at five innings. DelConte once again led the way for the Mariners going 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. Dylan Riccardi and O'Neil each chipped in with two-run doubles in the contest while Jenny Groman also drove in a pair of runs.
Jackie LaFleur scored the lone run for Bay Path after singling through the right side in the third. Vallee again notched the lone RBI, this time sending LaFleur home on a shot to right field.
The Wildcats were unable to string any more runs together. Fiederlein capped a strong week with her sixth win in six starts, holding Bay Path to five hits while striking out six to improve to 8-5 on the season.
Bay Path starter Maria Carta took the loss and gave up 12 runs on 11 hits. She walked five and struck out three batters.