Krolikowski Powers Mariners to Split with Johnson & Wales
NEW LONDON, Conn. - Sara Krolikowski (Bristol, Conn.) went 3-for-4, drove in five RBI, and hit two home runs to help the Mitchell College softball team split a doubleheader with the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales this afternoon. Mitchell won the first game, 12-8, and fell in a close one in game two, 8-7.
Krolikowski hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning of game one to give the Mariners an early 4-0 lead. Lindsey Donelin (Niantic, Conn.), Nikki Hoxie (Winsted, Conn.), and Liz Roy (Jewett City, Conn.) all singled in the inning. The home team would build a 9-2 lead going into the top of the fifth inning, when the Wildcat bats came alive. Lauren Lomonaco (Southampton, N.J.) and Sheri Plante (Millbury, Mass.) singled, and Kirsten Griffiths (North Haven, Conn.) doubled in the top of the fifth to make the game close at 9-6. Krolikowski hit another homer, and Hoxie singled in the bottom of the fifth to increase the lead to 12-6. Johnson & Wales would score two in the top of the sixth, but Kristina Torres (Groton, Conn.) would retire the Wildcats in the seventh to gain the victory.
In game two, the Wildcats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on singles by Lomonaco and Kristyn Lynch (Duxbury, Mass.). Mitchell would come right back in the bottom of the first to tie the game with singles from Donelin, Roy, and Stacey Suplicki (New London, Conn.). The game was still a tie, 7-7, in the top of the seventh when a single by Griffiths drove in the winning run for the visitors. The Mariners were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, as pitcher Amanda Rae Sullivan (East Granby, Conn.) retired the side and picked up the win.
Roy had a solid day at the plate going 4-for-8 with four runs scored and four RBI, and Hoxie also had strong offensive stats as she went 4-for-6 with two runs scored. Freshman shortstop Stacey Suplicki went 4-for-7 and two RBI, and she also had a great day defensively with three putouts and six assists.
The Mariners are now 6-9-1 overall and 3-0-1 in NECC play, and they are back in action on Sunday, April 5th when they host conference opponent Elms College at noon.