Softball Sweeps Past Bay Path
LONGMEADOW, Mass. - The Mitchell College softball team won both games of a conference doubleheader at Bay Path College on Tuesday afternoon, sweeping the series by scores of 6-1 and 11-2 at Farmlea Road Field.
Bay Path fell to 9-16 overall and 3-10 in the NECC, while Mitchell improved to 13-15 on the season and 10-4 in conference play. Junior infielder Emily Evans led the Wildcats, hitting safely in both games and going 3-for-5 on the day.
In game one, Bay Path struck first in the bottom of the third. Katie Begin reached on an error and later scored the lone run after Keelin Dougherty plated her on a shot to right center.
Mitchell would answer in the top of the fourth, scoring a pair of runs to take the lead. Junior outfielder Shannen Pelletier notched both RBI on a double down the left field line that drove in sophomores Meghan Burke and Tiffany Person.
Mitchell would score four more runs in the fifth to break the game open. Burke, Person, senior Jen Bordonaro and junior Nikki Hoxie all scored runs during the frame. Bordonaro and Person each shelled doubles, while Burke tallied a single shot.
Junior pitcher Marissa Thomas earned the win after tossing seven innings and giving up five hits and only one run. Thomas (10-6) struck out six for the game. She would also notch the nightcap victory as well, allowing two runs on four hits while fanning seven in the second game.
Dougherty (5-8) suffered the loss. She scattered nine hits and six runs, five earned. Dougherty struck out six and walked one for the seven innings.
Person scored first for the Mariners in the second game off of a double down the left field line by freshman Chelsea Arpin. Arpin would later cross the plate on a wild pitch to put Mitchell up 2-0.
Bay Path would reply in the bottom of the second to knot the score at 2-2. Jessica Priestly launched a two-run homer over the center field fence that scored Mercedes Griffith. Griffith went 2-for-6 along with Dougherty for the day.
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they could not prevent the Mariners from scoring three more runs in the third, four in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Out of the nine additional runs added by Mitchell only three were earned, including the go-ahead run in the third scored by Bordonaro.
Alex Putnam suffered the loss for Bay Path, allowing 11 runs (five earned) on 14 hits. Putnam (4-8) fanned four and gave up two free trips to first.
Mitchell will wrap up the regular season with a home doubleheader against Lesley University on Friday, April 29 at 3:30 p.m. The Mariners will honor their three seniors prior to first pitch.