Softball Dominates Norwich to Earn Home Opener Sweep

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team outscored Norwich University 28-4 across a non-conference doubleheader sweep on Sunday, topping the Cadets 15-2 in game one and 13-2 in the second outing of their home opener.

The Mariners pounded out 17 hits in the opener to support starting Katelyn Lipsky (Plantsville, Conn.), who improved her record to 5-1 on the spring by dealing four shutout innings of one hit ball. Sophomore Emily Reynolds (Somers, Conn.) got the start in the second game of the twin bill and tossed three no hit innings, allowing just one walk, before freshman Olivia DeCicco (Haverhill, Mass.) came out of the bullpen and surrendered just one run over two innings in relief.

The Mariners (9-3 overall) will jump back into action on Wednesday, March 29, when they visit Nichols College for a non-conference doubleheader.

Game 1 – Mitchel 15, Norwich 2

After scoring two runs in both the top of the first and second innings, the Mariner bats erupted for seven runs in the third to break open what was a 4-1 ballgame. Hannah Lemke (East Haddam, Conn.), Sarah Aviles (Griswold, Conn.), Gemma Landry (Lewiston, ME), Brooke Whitmarsh (Portsmouth, R.I.), and Kayla Goins (Lebanon, Conn.) each tallied RBI base hits in the frame, which ran the Mitchell lead to 11-1.

The Mariners scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by a two run double off the bat of Olivia DeCicco, before Hailey Hill (Griswold, Conn.) closed the door in relief of Lipsky. Whitmarsh had a team high three hits, Landry a game-best four RBI, and 11 Mariners collected at least one base hit.

Kennedy White suffered the loss for Norwich, allowing 15 hits and nine earned runs in just three innings of work.

Game 2 – Mitchell 13, Norwich 2

The second game belonged to sophomore Brooke Whitmarsh, who belted three home runs and finished 3-3 with nine RBI and three runs scored. The three homers and nine RBI are both individual game records in Mitchell softball program history.

Freshman Rylee Wood (Lloydminster, Alta.) also went deep for the home squad, the first of her career, while Aviles and Lemke both had multi-hit games.

Maren McGinn took the loss for the Cadets after allowing 10 hits and 13 runs (eight allowed) in just two and two third innings of work.