Softball Picks Up Win on Final Day in Florida

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Mitchell College softball team wrapped up their spring break trip by splitting a doubleheader on Thursday at Legends Way Ballfields, blanking Marywood University 2-0 early before falling to Ohio Wesleyan University 2-0 later in the day.

The Mariners (3-7, 0-0 GNAC) will return to action for their home opener on Tuesday, March 19th, with a pair of non-conference games against Rhode Island College.

Game 1 – Mitchell 2, Marywood 0

The Mariners gave the ball to senior right handed pitcher Katelyn Lipsky (Plantstville, Conn.) in the first game of their final day in Florida for spring break. After having not pitched since the season opener last Saturday, the senior delivered with a dominant performance against the Pacers. Lipsky tossed a complete game shutout to earn her first victory of the season, scattering five hits and striking out five.

Junior Emma LaBreck (Rollinsford, N.H.) provided the initial offensive spark for Mitchell, snapping a scoreless tie in the top of the second inning with an RBI double to left center field, scoring Hailey Hill (Griswold, Conn.). Freshman Brooke Clancy (East Haven, Conn.) added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, singling in her first collegiate RBI.

Senior Jenna Bennett (Shelton, Conn.) added the only other hit in the game for the Mariners, who were largely kept in check by Marywood starter Marissa Gregory. Greogory, who picked up her first loss this spring, worked four innings and allowed just one earned run and three hits, striking out nine batters along the way. The loss was the first of the season for the Pacers, who entered the day with a 4-0 record.

Emma McNally went 2-2 with a walk for the Pacers, while Kat Davis also had two hits in the loss.

Game 2 – Ohio Wesleyan 2, Mitchell 0

The Mariners entered their second game of the day looking to string together this first winning streak of the season, but senior Katie Chittum of the Battling Bishops had other plans. Chittum tossed a complete game one-hitter, allowing no earned runs while striking out five.

After two scoreless frames, Ohio Wesleyan jumped ahead when Sophia Cegledy drove in Sara Bias on a fielder's choice to centerfield. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh when Ohio Wesleyan tacked one more run on the board. The Mariners managed to get a runner on second in the bottom half of the inning, but Chittum retired the final batter by way of the strikeout to end the contest.

Junior Emily Reynolds (Somers, Conn.) was tagged with the loss despite tossing six innings of one run ball.