Softball Takes Two From Wheelock
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team opened conference play with 8-0 and 10-0 victories over Wheelock College on Sunday afternoon, both in five innings.
Mitchell improved to 5-11 overall and 2-0 in NECC play. Wheelock dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the league.
Game 1 – Mitchell 8, Wheelock 0 (5 innings)
Senior Jen Bordonaro and freshman Chelsea Arpin each had two hits and drove in a run as Mitchell scored runs in every inning but the third. Junior Marissa Thomas pitched a three-hitter and struck out four en route to her second shutout of the season.
Mitchell scored three runs in the first inning—all on wild pitches—to take the lead. The Mariners added four more runs in the second, scoring twice on wild pitches and getting RBI singles from Bordonaro and freshman Tricia Tomaselli. Mitchell's final run came in the fourth inning on a double to center by Arpin that scored junior Stacey Suplicki.
Jacky Hull went 2-for-2 with a triple to lead the Wildcats at the plate. Nicole Zina got the start inside the circle for Wheelock and allowed eight runs (five earned) on six hits over 4.0 innings. She also struck out two batters and walked four.
Game 2 – Mitchell 10, Wheelock 0 (5 innings)
Bordonaro stayed hot in the second game and collected two more hits and an RBI while sophomore Meghan Burke went 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI. Tomaselli earned the win by throwing 5.0 innings and allowed two hits while striking out three. It also marked her first career shutout.
Burke's double in the first inning plated two runs and junior Brittany Zaccaria added an RBI single to stake Mitchell to a 3-0 lead. The Mariners added four more runs in the second with junior Nikki Hoxie, Suplicki and Burke supplying RBI doubles. The final three runs came in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Arpin and RBI singles by Burke and sophomore Tiffany Person.
Sarah Negron and Sara Buscemi each provided base hits for Wheelock. Zina also pitched the nightcap and allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits while striking out three.
Mitchell will next play a doubleheader at Newbury College on Monday, April 4 at 3 p.m.