Softball Splits with Hawks
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at home on Tuesday afternoon against Roger Williams University, routing the Hawks 13-1 in the opener before falling short 5-3 in the second game of the twin bill.
Katelyn Lipsky (Plantsville, Conn.), the reigning New England Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Week, dominated the Hawks in the first game, tossing a five-inning complete game, allowing just five hits and one run, striking out three. The Mariners bats also plated eight runs in the bottom of the first, giving the junior more than enough support as she improved her record to 9-6 on the season while dropping her ERA to 3.10.
Mitchell carried a narrow lead into the late innings in the second game and looked to be on their way to a sweep of the day. The Hawks jumped ahead in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three runs off sophomore Emily Reynolds (Somers, Conn.), before holding off a late Mariner rally for the victory. Reynolds, who allowed only two runs through her first five innings of work, was charged with the loss after surrendering five runs in seven innings, walking just one and striking out five.
The Mariners (17-12 overall, 7-1 NECC) will return to action on Thursday, April 20, when they travel for a non-conference doubleheader against Albertus Magnus College.
Game 1 – Mitchell 13, Roger Williams 1
After Jamie Wells put the Hawks on top with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning, the Mariners answered by erupting for eight runs in the bottom half of the frame. RWU starter Raegen Germano was chased out of the game before recording an out after walking the first three Mitchell batters before giving up an RBI single to Brooke Whitmarsh (Portsmouth, R.I.) then walking in another run.
With the bases still loaded, Natalie Lundari came on in relief and proceeded to allow six more runs to score in the inning, the Mitchell offense highlighted by a bases clearing triple off the bat of Hannah Lemke (East Haddam, Conn.) and an RBI double by Gemma Landry (Lewiston, M.E.).
Jenna Bennett (Shelton, Conn.) belted a two run double in the bottom of the second inning to make it a 10-1 ballgame and the Mariners went on to add three more runs in the fourth with Lemke driving in her fourth run of the game, an RBI single to left field.
Lemke finished 2-3 with four RBI and a run scored, while Madison Nicynski (Warwick, R.I.) went 2-3 with a double, three runs scored, and one RBI.
Taylor Howell led the Hawks with two hits in the loss.
Game 2 – Roger Williams 5, Mitchell 3
Mitchell starter Emily Reynolds and RWU starter Nicole Corey matched scoreless early, before Taylor Howell drove in the game's first run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third. Jenna Bennett knotted the score in the bottom of the first with an RBI single up the middle, but Howell came through with an RBI double in the top of the fifth, giving the Hawks a 2-1 edge.
In the bottom half of the inning Gemma Landry and Hannah Lemke ripped back to back doubles, eaching driving in one run, to push Mitchell on top 3-2.
The double was the second hit of the day for Landry, who single in the bottom of the fourth inning gave her 100 career hits in a Mitchell uniform. It took the sophomore just 70 games to reach the 100-hit milestone, the quickest any Mariners player has reached the feat in the program's Division III era.
Unfortunately for the home team, the Hawks would tag Reynolds for two runs in the top of the sixth, and despite loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh, the Mariners were unable to push any runs across, as their five game winning streak came to an end.
Landry finished 2-4 with an RBI and one run scored, while Olivia DeCicco (Haverhill, Mass.) went 2-3 with a pair of doubles and a run scored.
Raegen Germano eanred the win for RWU, coming out of the bullpen to throw two and two third innings of scoreless ball, allowing just one hit and three walks. Caroline Thomas drove in two runs for the Hawks, delivering a go-ahead pinch hit single in the tide shifting sixth inning.