Softball Eliminated at NECC Championship
BOSTON – Mitchell College was eliminated from the 2011 New England Collegiate Conference Championship by second-seeded Elms College on Saturday afternoon by a 2-1 final in eight innings at UMass-Boston's Clark Field.
The Blazers put a run on the board without getting the ball out of the infield in the third. Alison McBride singled on a grounder past the circle, and Jenna Lipscomb reached on a dribbler to third. McBride advanced two bases on the play due to a Mariners throwing error and later scored on a Rachel Butt groundout to short.
Mitchell tied it up in the sixth, which Nikki Hoxie led off by legging out a double off the glove of an outstretched Leah Spring. After advancing to third on a groundout, Hoxie scored on a single to right by Tiffany Person to knot the game at 1-1.
The game stayed tied into extra innings, when Mitchell nearly struck first. Tricia Tomaselli was gunned out at home plate trying to score from third on a ground ball to Ali Witaszek at first base, leaving the game tied for what would be the home team's final at-bat.
A Jenna Lipscomb chopper to second base scored a sliding Izzy Caraballo from third base with the game-winning run, sending Elms to the championship for a rematch with top-seeded Lesley University.
Courtney Hampton picked up the win for Elms, going all eight innings, scattering five hits and striking out five. Marissa Thomas took the loss for the Mariners, striking out two in seven-plus innings.
Both Thomas and Brittany Zaccaria were named to the NECC All-Tournament Team.