Softball Takes Two From Lyndon State
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team earned a pair of victories over Lyndon State College on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field, winning by final scores of 2-1 and 6-0 in non-conference action.
Mitchell made the most of three hits in the opener and pushed across the go-ahead run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by freshman Brittany Fiederlein. Fiederlein also came out on top in a pitcher's duel with Lyndon State starter Katie Davis, allowing only one run on five hits in a complete game effort.
In the second game, Mitchell used a five-run third inning to give senior Tricia Tomaselli all the support she would need. Tomaselli yielded only two hits and struck out four to secure the shutout and her first win of the season.
Mitchell (4-9 overall) will next host Elms College for two games on Sunday, March 23 at 11 a.m. The series was originally scheduled as a road contest, but unplayable field conditions at Elms forced the change in venue. Lyndon State (1-11 overall) returns to action with a pair of games against SUNY Cobleskill on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Castleton, Vt.
Game 1 – Mitchell 2, Lyndon State 1
Mitchell took an early 1-0 lead on a two-out, RBI double by junior Lindsey Romagnino in the bottom of the first inning. In the fourth inning, a one-out triple by Jillian Emery set the table for Lyndon State to tie the game. Taylor Young then followed with a ground out to the shortstop to plate the tying run.
Mitchell's final hit of the game came in the fifth when sophomore Jenny Groman led off with a single to right field. She then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on a passed ball, and Fiederlein brought her all the way home with a fly ball to center.
The Mariners made the one-run lead hold up over the final two frames. The Hornets threatened in the sixth, putting runners at first and second with no outs. But Fiederlein didn't allow another ball out of the infield, getting out of the jam with two groundouts back to the circle and a pop up to first base. She then set down the side in order in the seventh to improve to 3-4 on the season.
Davis allowed only one earned run on three hits over 6.0 innings while striking out six and walking seven. She dropped to 1-7 overall on the season.
Game 2 – Mitchell 6, Lyndon State 0
Mitchell's offense ignited for five runs on five hits in the third inning. The Mariners loaded the bases with only one out and scored their first two runs as a result of a Hornets' throwing error. Romagnino then followed with a two-run double to make it 4-0, and a two-out triple by sophomore Shannon O'Neil brought in the final run.
The Mariners tacked on another run in the fourth to make it 6-0. Freshman Samantha Ryan led off the frame with a triple to left field and scored on a single to right by sophomore Emily Morenzoni.
Tomaselli (1-5 overall) struck out four over 7.0 innings and didn't issue a walk. The two hits she gave up were both singles, and no Lyndon State runner advanced past first base.
Jena Finnegan and Brooke Dolloff each finished with hits for the Hornets. Starting pitcher Meghan Gadapee gave up four earned runs on 10 hits over 6.0 innings and struck out three.