Second-Seeded Softball Drops NECC Tournament Opener to NEC

REVERE, Mass. – The second-seeded Mitchell College softball team fell 3-1 in eight innings against third-seeded New England College in their opening round game of the NECC tournament on Friday evening at Griswold Park.

A true pitcher's duel, junior Katelyn Lipsky (Plantsville, Conn.), the NECC Pitcher of the Year, got the start for the Mariners and worked four shutout innings, surrendering just four hits and one walk, striking out four. Junior Hailey Hill (Griswold, Conn.) came on in relief and tossed three scoreless innings before the Pilgrims were able to push three runs across in the top of the eighth.

NEC senior Naomi Medrano was brilliant on the way to her third victory of the season allowing just one run (unearned) in eight innings of work, allowing just six hits and one walk, striking out four.

With the game scoreless in the top of the eighth inning, the Pilgrims pushed the first run of the afternoon across the plate when Destiny Helmedach doubled home Emily Gagne, who had reached on a walk moments earlier. Amaya Rodriguez then ripped an RBI single to right field, before Emma Lopez capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly the very next batter.

Hannah Lemke (East Haddam, Conn.) drove home Olivia DeCicco (Haverhill, Mass.) with an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning, but Medrano got a strikeout and a pop up to finish what she started.

Senior Madison Nicynski (Warwick, R.I.) produced the only extra base hit for the Mariners, who managed only six hits total, doubling down the right field line in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Now just one loss away from elimination, the Mariners (23-18 overall) will play fourth-seeded Lesley University, who were beaten by top-seeded Eastern Nazarene College 11-1 earlier in the day, on Saturday, May 6, at 3:00 pm.

All games in the NECC softball tournament are hosted by Eastern Nazarene College at Griswold Park in Revere, Massachusetts.