Softball Concludes Regular Season with Two Losses to Lesley
NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College softball team wrapped up regular season play with two losses to NECC opponent Lesley University this afternoon. The first game was a close one, with Lesley pulling ahead in the fifth inning to gain the 7-4 win, and the second game was over in five innings due to the run rule being in effect with the score at 12-1 in the visitor's favor.
In game one, Mitchell scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Nikki Hoxie (Winsted, Conn.) led off the inning with a single, and Liz Roy (Jewett City, Conn.) followed with another single. Sara Krolikowski (Bristol, Conn.) hit a two-run single to score both Hoxie and Roy. Stacey Suplicki (New London, Conn.) then hit a sacrifice fly which scored Krolikowski. But the Lynx would come right back in the top of the fifth inning and rally to score five runs to take a 6-3 lead. Alyson Durben (Stow, Mass.), Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, Mass.), and Jenna Fralick (Woburn, Mass.) all hit RBI singles in the big inning. Mitchell would score one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning on another RBI single by Krolikowski, but that would be as close as they would get.
Kristina Torres (Groton, Conn.) pitched seven innings and took the loss, as she gave up eleven hits, six earned runs, and struckout seven. Alicia Burnett (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) picked up the win for the NECC-leading Lesley as she went the distance and yielded eight hits and four earned runs
Game two only lasted five innings, when the game was called with Lesley winning 12-1 due to the run rule. Lesley jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when they took advantage of four walks, two singles, and an error. The Lynx then had another big inning in the second when they scored four more runs on three singles and aggressive baserunning to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Mitchell would only manage to score one run on an RBI by Suplicki in the second inning. Cassandra Knox (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) pitched a no hitter and allowed just one run and three walks, as she picked up the win. Marissa Thomas (New London, Conn.) pitched two inning for Mitchell and got the loss, as she gave up seven hits, five earned runs, and four walks. Karen Fuller (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) came in to relieve Thomas and pitched the remaining three innings.
With the loss, Mitchell's regular season comes to a close with an overall record of 13-16-1 and 10-5-1 in NECC play. The Mariners now will wait for the weekend's results to see where they are seeded for the NECC tournament. Lesley improves to 19-10 overall and 11-1 in NECC play.