Lipsky Records 400th Strikeout as Softball Splits with Lasell

NEWTON, Mass. – Senior Katelyn Lipsky (Planstville, Conn.) became the first player in the Division III era of the Mitchell College softball program to record 400 strikeouts, as the Mariners wrapped up their regular season with a doubleheader split with Lasell University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) South Division action on Sunday afternoon.

Lipsky tossed a complete game one-hitter in the opener to lead the Mariners to a 3-0 victory, while late inning heroics by the Lasers sent Lasell past Mitchell 7-6 in the second game.

The Mariners finish the regular season with a 16-18 overall record, including a 12-6 mark in GNAC play, while going 11-3 in the South Division of the conference, earning the two-seed in the South. Mitchell will open double-elimination pod play on Thursday, May 2nd, against third-seeded Johnson & Wales University at Saint Joseph's College (ME)

Game 1 – Mitchell 3, Lasell 0

Lipsky wasted little time in reaching the 400 strikeout milestone, punching out Eryn Sheeley for the second out in the top of the second inning. The Laser bats had no answer for the Mitchell senior righty, as Lipsky carried a perfect game into the bottom of the fifth when Sheeley drew a one-out walk. Lipsky finished the with a complete game one-hit shutout, silencing the Lasell bats, while walking three and striking out eight.

The Mariners snapped a scoreless tie when junior Emily Reynolds (Somers, Conn.) scored on a passed ball in the top of the seventh. Two more runs came around to score shortly after when sophomore Cassandra Roman (New London, Conn.) laced a two-out RBI double. Roman, Lipsky, Madison Cole (Westbrook, ME), and Brooke Whitmarsh (Portsmouth R.I.) had hits for the Mariners in the win.

Eryn Sheeley, who carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning, took the loss, allowing four hits, four walks, and three runs, while striking out five.

Game 2 – Lasell 7, Mitchell 6

After the Lasers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, the Mariners stormed back, scoring three runs in the second and adding two more in the third. Lasell tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth, before Mitchell took a one run lead when Cassandra Roman scampered home when senior Jenna Bennett (Shelton, Conn.) hit into a fielder's choice.

Lasell's Ally Kirck then delivered a walk-off two-run single to left field in the bottom of the seventh, securing the top-seed in the GNAC South Division for the Lasers.

Emma LaBreck (Rollinsford, N.H.), Olivia DeCicco (Haverhill, Mass.), and Madison Cole had two hits apiece for the Mariners, with Cole and DeCicco both hitting doubles.

Emily Reynolds took the loss for the Mariners, allowing five runs and seven hits in six innings of work.