Softball Dominates in Conference Opening Sweep of Elms

(Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography)

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team opened up Great Northeast Conference (GNAC) play in convincing fashion on Saturday afternoon at home, rolling to a doubleheader sweep of Elms College, 11-0 in the opening game then by an 8-0 final, both games shortened to five innings due to the eight-run rule.

The Mariners pounded out 14 hits against the Blazers in the opener, while junior Katelyn Lipsky (Plantsville, Conn.) twirled four innings of two-hit ball for her second victory of the spring. It was more of the same in the second game, as junior Emily Reynolds (Somers, Conn.) kept the Blazer bats at bay, tossing a five-inning complete game, surrendering just three hits and one walk, striking out three.

The Mariners (5-9 2-0 GNAC) will jump right back into action on Sunday, April 7th, when they host Dean College in a GNAC doubleheader slated to begin at 12:00 pm. The Blazers (1-17, 0-2 GNAC) return to play on Sunday, April 7th, when they host Fisher College in non-conference action.

Game 1 – Mitchell 11, Elms 0

The Mariners plated five runs in the top of the first inning off Elms starter Kaelyn Zakaitis, using a passed ball, a wild pitch, and runs driven in by from Madison Cole (Westbrook, ME), Cassandra Roman (New London, Conn.), and Lola Worsdale (Stonington, Conn.). Two more runs came across in the bottom of the second, before the Mariners added three more in the fourth, highlighted by a run scoring single off the bat of Jenna Bennett (Shelton, Conn.) and an RBI double by Roman.

Roman finished the game 2-3 with three RBI, while junior Emma Labreck (Rollinsford, N.H.) also added an RBI for Mitchell.

After Lipsky worked four scoreless innings, walking one and striking out five, senior Hailey Hill (Griswold, Conn.) came out of the bullpen and threw a scoreless inning in relief.

Game 2 – Mitchell 8, Elms 0

It was another dominant pitching performance for the Mariners, as Emily Reynolds did not allow a runner past second base in her five innings of work.

A groundout by Jenna Bennett scored junior Gemma Landry (Lewiston, ME) to give Mitchell a one run lead in the top of the first, before Landry laced an RBI single to centerfield in the second to make a 2-0 ballgame. Landry added to her productive day in the fourth, laying down a bunt single to score Reynolds, and then five runs came home in the fifth, as the Mariners walked it off due to the run rule on a two-run single up the middle by Bennett.

Landry led the way offensively in the second game, going 4-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Bennett collected one hit and drove in three for the Mariners, while freshman Brooke Clancy (East Haven, Conn.) was 2-3 with one RBI and a pair of runs scored, and senior Hannah Lemke (East Haddam, Conn.) delivered a three hit day with one RBI.

Jill Dykema was tagged with the loss for the Blazers after allowing eight earned runs across four and one third innings of work.