Softball Swept in Season Opening Doubleheader

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Mitchell College softball team suffered a pair of losses to open up their season on Saturday during their annual spring break trip, falling to Augsburg University 4-3 in the first game of the day, before losing 9-3 to Suffolk University later in the afternoon.

The Mariners (0-2, 0-0 GNAC) will not have to wait long for an opportunity to bounce back, as they are slated to play two games at Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont, Florida on Sunday, March 10th; battling Ohio Northern University at 9:00 am and Utica University at 1:30 pm.

Game 1 – Augsburg 4, Mitchell 3

The Mariners fell behind early during their season opening game, as the Auggies took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on RBI single by Zoie Johnson. Mitchell answered an inning later and tied the score when Hannah Lemke (East Haddam, Conn.) bunted home Brooke Whitmarsh (Portsmouth, R.I.), and Sarah Aviles (Griswold, Conn.) followed that up with an RBI single to right field.

In the bottom half of the third inning, Augsburg took the lead when Olivia Hennager singled to right field, but once again the Mariners countered, knotting the score at 3-3 when Whitmarsh laid down a sacrifice bunt. Olivia Funk then led off the fifth with a solo home run to left field, pushing the Auggies ahead for good.

Aviles led the Mariners offensively on the day, finishing with three hits and one RBI. Maidson Cole (Westbrook, ME), Gemma Landry (Lewiston, ME), and Hailey Hill (Griswold, Conn.) each also collected one hit in the game.

Mitchell senior Katelyn Lipsky (Planstville, Conn.) got the opening day start in the circle and absorbed the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) across six innings of work, striking out four and walking seven. Olivia O'Connor improved her record to 3-0 on the spring for Augsburg, tossing a complete game with one earned run allowed, and eight strikeouts.

Game 2 – Suffolk 9, Mitchell 3

Once again, the Mariners found themselves trailing early, as Suffolk built a 6-0 lead over the first four innings against junior starting pitcher Emily Reynolds (Somers, Conn.). Mitchell chipped away at the deficit in the fourth inning when sophomore Cassandra Roman (New London, Conn.) bunted home and a run and freshman Madison Cole ripped a two-run single to left field.

Suffolk relief pitcher Lily Newhall was able to silence the Mitchell bats and preserve the lead, working three and a third scoreless innings to pick up her first win of the season. Reynolds was tagged with six earned runs and took the loss, while senior Hailey Hill delivered two scoreless frames out of the bullpen.

Cole went 2-4 with two RBI to pace the Mitchell attack, while Roman finished 1-3 with one RBI and one run scored in the loss.