Softball Takes Two From Norwich

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team took a pair of games off Norwich University on Saturday afternoon, winning by final scores of 8-1 and 14-1.

Gemma Landry paced the offensive attack from the leadoff spot, going 6-for-8 with four doubles, a homer and five RBI in the twin bill. Pitchers Emily Reynolds and Katelyn Lipsky both tossed complete games and held the Cadets to a combined eight hits on the day.

Mitchell (6-6 overall) will next play at Roger Williams University on Sunday, March 27 at noon.

Game 1 – Mitchell 8, Norwich 1

Mitchell struck for three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never trailed. Landry led off with a double that came inches shy of clearing the fence down the left-field line. She then scored on a single by Jenna Bennett, and later the Mariners added two more runs on a Norwich throwing error.

The Cadets got a run back in the second inning when Annika Beebe led off with a homer. However, the Mariners matched the run in the home half as Landry slammed her first career long ball to make it a 4-1 game.

Mitchell tacked on three insurance runs in the third as Sydney Oatway got things started with an RBI single to left. Reynolds then helped her own cause with a two-run double to left-center field, extending the lead to 7-1.

Reynolds picked up another hit to plate Mitchell's final run in the fifth. She wouldn't need the extra run support, as she retired the final eight batters she faced to improve to 4-1 on the season. She allowed just the one run on five hits and fanned five.

Norwich starter Maren McGinn gave up seven runs on eight hits in 3.0 innings of work.

Game 2 – Mitchell 14, Norwich 1 (5 innings)

The Cadets got out of the gates quickly in the nightcap, as Liliana Rolfe led off the game with a double and scored on a single up the middle by Laura Deaton. The lead didn't last long as Landry led off the bottom of the frame with a double and scored on a fielder's choice.

Mitchell sent nine batters to the plate in the second inning and took the lead when another double by Landry plated two runs. Bennett also picked up an RBI in the rally while Hannah Lemke scored on a wild pitch, leaving the hosts with a 5-1 advantage.

In the third, Landry swatted her third double of the game to drive in Kayla Goins . Lemke also plated a run with a ground out to third, and Bennet's sacrifice fly made it an 8-1 game.

The Mariners put the game out of reach with a six-run fourth inning that was highlighted by RBI singles by Landry and Brooke Whitmarsh. With the eight-run rule in play, Lipsky struck out the side in the fifth to send everyone home early.

Lipsky fanned a career-high 11 batters in 5.0 innings to improve to 2-4 on the year. She allowed only one run on three hits and issued a pair of walks.

Norwich starter Kennedy White yielded five runs on six hits in the loss.