Softball Completes Series Sweep of Becker

LEICESTER, Mass. -- The Mitchell College softball team picked up a pair of one-run victories over Becker College on Saturday afternoon, completing the series sweep by final scores of 3-2 and 7-6 in New England Collegiate Conference action at Russell Field.

Katelyn Lipsky and Hannah Lemke each picked up wins in the circle as the Mariners (7-14 overall) pulled into a tie for fourth place in the NECC standings at 5-9. Lemke also had a team-high three hits at the plate, while Maliah Pabellon had two hits and knocked in a pair of runs.

With one week remaining in the regular season, Mitchell will next play a doubleheader at New England College on Wednesday, April 28 at 3 p.m.

Game 1 -- Mitchell 3, Becker 2

The Mariners took an early lead in the first inning after a double by Nene Capeles scored Lemke for the game's first run. Becker bounced back in the home half and took the lead on a two-run double by Holly Letourneau, although the advantage proved short-lived. The very next inning, Kaitlin Thibodeau-Corey scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, and Madison Nicynski followed with a single up the middle to plate the go-ahead run.

Lipsky made the margin stand over the final six innings. She escaped trouble in the third, getting two key outs to strand a pair of runners in scoring position. The Hawks threatened again in the seventh--putting the tying run on second based with two outs--before Lipsky recorded her ninth strike out to end the game. She scattered eight hits over 7.0 innings to improve to 6-7. 

Game 2 -- Mitchell 7, Becker 6

Lemke benefitted from more run support in the second game. After falling behind 1-0 in the second, Mitchell grabbed the lead with a four-run fourth inning that was sparked by a leadoff homer by Pabellon, her team-leading third of the season. Sarah Aviles later added an RBI single, and a pair of Becker fielding errors led to the final two runs.

The Mariners made it a 6-1 game in the fifth when Laurissa Amaker and Hailey Hill scored on a passed ball. In the sixth, a sacrifice fly by Pabellon gave the Mariners a 7-2 cushion.

The extra run proved necessary as the Hawks hit up Lemke for a pair of runs in the sixth, then put two on with no outs in the seventh. Lipsky took over in relief and held off Becker down the stretch. Although a two-out single by Lindsay Mitchell cut the margin to 7-6, Lemke nailed down the final out to earn her first career save.

Lemke picked up her first career win, giving up six runs on nine hits in 6.0 innings of work. She also struck out two while walking a pair.