Softball Gets Back on Track with Sweep of Becker
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Becker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
|
Mitchell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | X | 7 | 8 | 1 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final (8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Becker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
|
Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
NEW LONDON, Conn. – A day after suffering its first defeats in New England Collegiate Conference play, the Mitchell College softball team bounced back with a pair of league wins over Becker College on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The Mariners (13-13 overall, 12-2 NECC) won 1-0 in the opener thanks to a walk-off single by Danielle Autieri in extra innings, coupled with a stellar pitching performance by Brittany Fiederlein. Mitchell's bats then picked up to post a 7-1 victory in the nightcap as Fiederlein supplied the highlight with a three-run homer and also went the distance to pick up the win in the circle.
Jaclyn Orangio went 4-for-7 and scored a run in the doubleheader to lead Becker (11-12 overall, 7-5 NECC). Jessica Brochu also added a pair of hits for the Hawks on the day, both in the first game.
Mitchell will next play at Wheelock College on Wednesday, April 22 at 3 p.m. Becker returns to action at home against Bay Path University on Thursday, April 23 at 3 p.m.
Game 1 – Mitchell 1, Becker 0 (8 innings)
Starting pitchers Fiederlein and Kelsey Norberg were each on their game in the opener as runs were hard to come by. Both teams produced scoring chances in the later innings but failed to take advantage, leaving a combined 20 runners on base in the contest.
Mitchell threatened in the third, loading the bases with two outs before Norberg escaped the jam with a strikeout. Becker put a runner in scoring position in the fourth, but Fiederlein snapped up a comebacker and fired over to first to escape trouble.
Fiederlein pitched around an error in the sixth that allowed leadoff batter Orangio to reach base. Orangio advanced to second via sacrifice and moved to third on a ground out, but Fiederlein concentrated on the batter and struck out Rebecca Carkhuff to keep the game scoreless.
A double by Shannon O'Neil and a single by Fiederlein gave Mitchell runners at the corners with one out in the home half of the sixth. However, the Mariners came up empty once again as Norberg got the next two batters to pop out.
Marlena Karavolis led off the Becker seventh with a single but was put out at second base on an ensuing sacrifice attempt. Katelynn MacLean then moved the runner into scoring position with a base hit, though Fiederlein buckled down and struck out the next two batters to shut down the rally.
Rivkah Berkman led off the Mitchell seventh with a hit and later moved into scoring position on a single by Samantha DelConte. The Mariners then had two cracks at plating the winning run, but Norberg got two harmless pop ups to send the game to extra innings.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, the Hawks benefitted as the speedy Orangio was placed on second base to start the eighth inning. Fiederlein saved a sure run by snagging a line drive back up the middle by Jessica Wheelahan, and she got the next two batters to ground out to strand Orangio at third base.
In the bottom of the frame, a wild pitch by Norberg allowed the winning run to move to third base. The Hawks then walked the next two batters to load the bases, and Autieri came through with a ground ball up the middle to drive in Dylan Riccardi with the game's only run.
Fiederlein scattered five hits over 8.0 innings to secure her fourth shutout of the season. She also struck out six and walked two. Norberg struck out six and walked four over 7.0 innings of work and surrendered the lone unearned run on seven hits.
Game 2 – Mitchell 7, Becker 1
The showdown between Fiederlein and Norberg continued as each got the starting nod in the nightcap. After stranding two Becker base runners in the first, Fiederlein helped her own cause in the bottom of the frame by drilling a three-run homer over the left field fence to give Mitchell a 3-0 lead. The long ball was her team-leading fourth of the season.
Mitchell added to its lead with a run in the fourth. Autieri led off with a double into the left-center gap and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. She then scored on a ground out by Berkman to make it a 4-0 game.
A Becker miscue in the outfield yielded another Mitchell run in the fifth. Riccardi drew a leadoff walk and scored from first base on a single by O'Neil that was misplayed and rolled to the fence.
The Hawks put a run up on the board in the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-1. Carkhuff came to the plate with the bags packed and tapped one back to the circle that deflected off Fiederlein's glove. With the tying run at the plate, Fiederlein got the next batter to fly out to center without any further damage.
Mitchell's final runs came in the sixth as DelConte doubled and scored on an error and Riccardi added a RBI single. Fiederlein wouldn't need the extra run support as she retired the side in order in the seventh to improve to 12-7 on the season. She gave up one unearned run on six hits in 7.0 innings and struck out seven.
Norberg (7-10 overall) lasted 4.0 innings and yielded four runs (one earned) on five hits. Samantha Lee tossed 2.0 innings of relief and gave up three runs—all unearned—on three hits.
