Softball Eliminated From NECC Championship

QUINCY, Mass. – Second-seeded Mitchell College suffered a pair of losses and was eliminated from the 2022 New England Collegiate Conference Softball Championship on Friday afternoon at Mitchell/McCoy Field.

The Mariners fell short 5-4 in their first game against third-seeded Lesley University. The Lynx struck for three runs in the fifth inning and held on down the stretch, picking up their first win of the season against Mitchell after going 0-4 in the regular season.

After dropping into the loser's bracket, Mitchell lost 9-0 in an elimination game against fourth-seeded New England College. The Pilgrims piled up five runs in the second inning and added four more in the third to seize control. Meanwhile, starting pitcher Emily Farone limited the Mariners to just one hit while issuing three walks.

Mitchell ends the season with an overall record of 19-21. The 19 wins are the most for the Mariners since 2014.

NECC Championship Game 2 – Lesley 5, Mitchell 4

A solo homer by Jordan Day gave the Lynx a quick lead in the top of the first inning. Mitchell tied things up in the home half on a two-out RBI double by Alex Lopez that scored Gemma Landry from first base 

Lindsey Jensen led off the third inning with a home run to put Lesley back on top. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Mariners countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Mitchell loaded the bases before getting back-to-back singles by Sydney Oatway and Nene Capeles to take the lead, and a ground out by Hannah Lemke extended the margin to 4-2.

In the fifth, Lesley tied the game on back-to-back RBI singles by Tara Eldredge and Mahlia Medina. Two batters later, Mitchell tried to turn an inning-ending double play, but an overthrow of first base allowed Medina to score the go-ahead run.

The Mariners had runners at the corners with two outs in the fifth but couldn't get a timely hit. That ended up being their best chance at the tie, as Day didn't allow a hit over the final two innings to seal the win.

Day (12-6 overall) gave up four runs on nine hits and struck out seven in a complete-game performance. Mitchell starter Katelyn Lipsky yielded five runs (four earned) on seven hits and fanned three, dropping to 8-11 overall.

NECC Championship Game 3 – NEC 9, Mitchell 0 (5 innings)

After the teams split the regular season series, NEC pounded out nine runs on 11 hits to take the rubber match. Emily Nelson led the way with three hits while Olivia Olson added a pair of doubles and Destiny Helmedach drove in three runs.

NEC's big second inning was highlighted by an RBI double by Olson and a two-run single by Helmedach. In the third, Helmedach's infield single capped a four-run rally and left the Pilgrims with a 9-0 advantage.

Mitchell's lone hit was a leadoff double by Landry in the first inning. Farone dominated the rest of the way, allowing only two more balls to leave the infield en route to the shutout. She improved to 8-9 on the season with victory.

Mitchell starter Emily Reynolds allowed nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits and struck out two over 3.0 innings.