Softball Takes Two in Pivotal GNAC Sweep of Wilcats
| Final (8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Johnson & Wales (RI) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 1 |
|
Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 2 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Johnson & Wales (RI) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 1 |
|
Mitchell | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | X | 7 | 10 | 2 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team picked up two pivotal conference wins on Friday, sweeping Johnson & Wales University in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader at Alumni Field.
The Mariners overcame an early deficit and held off the Wildcats in the opener, 7-6. Mitchell then scored 12 runs in the final three innings of the second game, using a walk off single by senior Brooke Whitmarsh (Portsmouth, R.I.) to sweep the Wildcats.
The Mariners (9-11, 4-4 GNAC) return to play on Sunday, April 6, with a pair of games against Lasell University. The Wildcats (10-12, 4-2 GNAC) will look to rebound on Sunday, April 6, with a pair of games at Simmons University.
Game 1 – Mitchell 7, JWU 6
After the Wildcats plated three runs in the top of the first, the Mariners responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame. The first one came home when senior Brooke Whitmarsh (Portsmouth R.I.) laced an RBI triple to right center with two outs, before fellow senior Christina Housley (Norfolk, VA) followed that up with a single up the middle, scoring Whitmarsh.
The Mariners knotted the score in the bottom of the third after junior Cassandra Roman (New London, Conn.) led off with an infield single, and was driven home when junior Olivia DeCicco doubled to left center. Mitchell then took their first lead of the game later in the inning when sophomore Madison Cole (Westbrook, ME) scored DeCicco with a two-out base hit up the middle.
The following inning saw Mitchell pull ahead, 5-3, as senior Gemma Landry (Lewiston, ME) singled, advanced to second on a walk and to third on a passed ball, before coming around to score on a throwing error by the JWU shortstop. Landry then padded the lead for the Mariners in the fifth with a two-run double to left center, and the score remained 7-3 heading into the final inning.
The Wildcats threatened in the seventh by plating three runs before Mitchell could record an out, however senior Emily Reynolds (Somers, Conn.) escaped with the win, retiring the next three JWU batters in order.
Reynolds improved to 5-6 on the season, surrendering six runs (five earned) in seven innings. Gemma Landry went 2-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while Madison Cole also had a pair of hits in the win. Sophomore Brooke Clancy (East Haven, Conn.) added a double and Whitmarsh a triple.
Amanda Madigan had a three hit day for the Wildcats, with a triple two runs scored, and one RBI. Katie Scheid was the losing pitcher, giving up 10 hits and seven runs (six earned) across six innings of work.
Game 2 – Mitchell 12, JWU 11
The Wildcats went ahead in the top of the second of the nightcap, scoring four runs, before pushing their lead to 5-0 in the top of the fifth.
Still trailing 5-0, the Mariners erupted with a five run sixth inning to tie the game, as Brooke Whitmarsh and Christina Housley hit back to back two-run doubles, while an RBI single down the left field line by Brooke Clancy tied the game, 5-5. Neither team managed to push a run across in the seventh, but the Wildcats pounced first in extra innings, scoring six runs.
The Marines punched back with seven runs in the bottom of the stanza, using an Emma LaBreck (Rollinsford, N.H.) RBI single, a Brooke Clancy two-run double, and a bases clearing double by junior Olivia DeCicco (Haverhill, Mass.) to tie the game. Brooke Whitmarsh then walked it off with an infield single, securing Mitchell's sweep of the Wildcats.
Whitmarsh finished 3-5 with two doubles, three RBI, and two runs scores. DeCicco also had three hits drove in three runs, and scored. Emily Reynolds picked up the win out of the bullpen.
