Mariners Sweep Weekly GNAC Softball Awards
WINTHROP Mass. – Following a week in which the Mitchell College softball team posted a perfect 4-0 record in conference play, the Mariners swept the weekly Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) awards, as junior Gemma Landry (Lewiston, ME) was named Player of the Week, senior Katelyn Lipsky (Plantsville, Conn.) was named Pitcher of the Week, and freshman Madison Cole (Westbrook, ME) was named Rookie of the Week.
It marks the first time this spring that Mitchell softball has been recognized by the conference in their weekly awards, and comes on the heels of the Mariners winning four straight games after weather related postponements caused them to not play from March 19th through April 6th.
Landry, a shortstop, had a strong week at the plate, slashing .692/.714/1.154 in four games while anchoring the middle infield. She had nine hits, including three triples, to go along with four RBI and seven runs scored. Landry recorded at least one base hit in all four games, highlighted by a 4-4 performance with three RBI and a run scored in an 8-0 conference win over Elms College. The junior went 5-6 with three RBI and four runs scored in a Saturday doubleheader sweep of the Blazers, then kept the momentum up by going 4-7 with three runs scored, two triples, and one RBI the next day in a doubleheader sweep of Dean College.
Heading into the new week, Landry is batting .365 with four RBI and 10 runs scored across 16 games.
Lipsky, a right handed pitcher, was dominant in the circle for Mitchell, making two starts in GNAC play, while posting a 2-0 record without allowing a run across eight innings of work. She allowed just three total hits, walked one batter, and recorded 10 strikeouts. Lipsky began the week on Saturday, April 6th, tossing four innings of two-hit ball in an 11-0 win over Elms College. The senior then got the start on Sunday, April 7th, against Dean College, and limited the Bulldogs to one-hit in four innings of work. She averaged 8.75 strikeouts per seven innings and posted a .50 WHIP.
Through six appearances this season, including five starts, Lipsky is 3-2 with a 3.59 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 25 and one third innings of work.
Cole, whose three starts on the week came in the designated player slot, enjoyed a breakout week for the Mariners, slashing .571/.600/.857 in three games. The freshman collected at least one base hit in all three games, highlighted by a 2-2 performance with three RBI in an 8-0 win on Saturday, April 6th, over Dean College. On the week, Cole recorded four hits including one triple, to go along with five RBI, three runs scored, and two walks.
The Mariners (7-9, 4-0 GNAC) will look to keep their winning streak alive when they return to play on Wednesday, April 10th, with a non-conference doubleheader at Salve Regina University.