Softball Swept at Bay Path

LONGMEADOW, Mass. -- The Mitchell College softball team dropped two games to Bay Path University on Sunday afternoon, falling by final scores of 6-3 and 4-2 in New England Collegiate Conference play at Ryan Field.

Next up for Bay Path (8-11 overall, 4-4 NECC) is a non-conference doubleheader at Pine Manor College on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Mitchell (7-12 overall, 3-7 NECC) travels to non-conference rival University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Thursday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m.

Game 1 – Bay Path 6, Mitchell 3 

Lauren Vallee homered, tripled and drove in two runs while Madison Goodhart scattered three runs in seven innings of work as Bay Path captured the opening game of the day. Goodhart (4-5 overall) went the distance for the 10th time this season, allowing just three runs on nine hits – all singles – while striking out four.

After spotting Mitchell a pair of runs in the top of the second inning on RBI singles by Nia Brown and Megan Elphick, Goodhart settled down and surrendered just one walk through the next four innings.

Bay Path knotted the game at 2-2 with a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning. Pinch runner Alexis Marie Ellsey scampered home for the first run on a throwing error following a ground ball that should have ended the inning. After a bunt single by Jailinne Ruiz, Goodhart scored the equalizer on an infield hit by Keyla Oliveras.

The Wildcats took their first lead in the fifth on Vallee's leadoff home run to center field that snapped the 2-2 tie. Goodhart later drove home Lopez from second base on a two-out single up the middle to make it 4-2.
 
Bay Path tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth to take a 6-2 lead. Gretchen Hale led off the frame with a base hit and scored on a triple by Vallee. A Lilly West sacrifice fly plated Vallee to end the Wildcats' scoring.

The Mariners plated their third run of the game on a two-out RBI single by Danielle Autieri in the seventh to close out the scoring.

Hale, Vallee, West, Goodhart and Ruiz each collected two hits for Bay Path, while Oliveras and Marissa Sarna-McCarthy notched one hit apiece.

Brown, Autieri and starting pitcher Taylor Duchesneau each picked up two hits for Mitchell. Duchesneau (5-9 overall) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on 12 hits with two walks and a strikeout in 6.0 innings of work.

Game 2 – Bay Path 4, Mitchell 2

After spotting Mitchell a pair of unearned runs in the first inning, the remainder of the game was all Bay Path, as the Wildcats closed out the doubleheader sweep with a 4-2 victory.

The Wildcats quickly trimmed the deficit to 2-1 as Oliveras led off the home half of the first with an infield hit and promptly stole second base. West singled home pinch runner Ruiz for the first Bay Path run of the game.

Bay Path took the lead for good with two runs in the third inning, as Vallee knocked in Kiley Bissell and eventually came around to score on a single by Katrina Peck that put the Wildcats on top 3-2.

An RBI double by Goodhart knocked home pinch runner Ellsey in the Bay Path sixth that extended the Wildcats' lead to 4-2.

Felicia Gaillardetz earned the win and improved to 4-5 with 4.0 solid innings of work. She allowed just two unearned runs and four hits and three walks. She struck out six.

Goodhart picked up her first career save, closing out the victory with 3.0 perfect innings as she retired all nine batters that she faced. She struck out one.

Peck went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI at the plate for Bay Path, while West picked up two hits. Oliveras, Ruiz, Bissell and Vallee each added a hit.

Samantha DelConte added two hits for Mitchell. Duchesneau (5-10 overall) went the distance and suffered the loss. In 6.0 innings she allowed three earned runs on nine hits.