Posted: Apr 11, 2010

Bay Path Narrowly Falls in Conference Softball Action

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College softball team captured both ends of an NECC doubleheader against Bay Path College on Sunday afternoon by final scores of 6-3 and 10-7.

Mitchell (12-6 overall, 6-0 NECC) remained undefeated in conference play and improved to 10-0 on its home field. Bay Path dropped to 11-13 overall and 0-4 in NECC play.

Game 1 – Mitchell 6, Bay Path 3

Mitchell jumped out to a 2-0 lead with runs in the third and fourth innings. Sophomore Marissa Thomas (New London, Conn.) scored on a double steal in the third while senior Sara Krolikowski (Bristol, Conn.) plated the run in the fourth with a double that scored freshman Meghan Burke (Bronx, N.Y.).

Bay Path tied things up at 2-2 in the fifth thanks to a double by Kellie Lastowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) that scored runners from second and third. The Mariners answered with a run in their half of the frame on an RBI single by Burke to go up 3-2.

The Wildcats pushed across a run in the sixth to tie the game once again. Sarah Gates (Crown Point, Ind.) drew a one-out walk and then went from first to third on a single by Maeghan Whitcomb (Lyndon, Vt.). Gates then scored on a fly ball to right field by Sarah Safron (Southampton, Mass.).

Mitchell took control with a three-run sixth. Sophomore Shannen Pelletier (Coventry, R.I.) drove in a run with a single while junior Jen Bordonaro (Winsted, Conn.) brought home another run with a double.

Sophomore pitcher Kristina Torres (Groton, Conn.) slammed the door in the seventh, improving to 5-4 on the season. She gave up three runs on five hits and struck out eight in 7.0 innings of work. Bay Path starter Jessica Nizinski (West Springfield, Mass.) gave up six runs (two earned) on 11 hits and struck out three without issuing a walk.

Game 2 – Mitchell 10, Bay Path 7

Whitcomb gave the Wildcats an early lead with an RBI double in the first that scored Gates. Mitchell responded with two runs in the home half of the first and then added four more runs in the second. Krolikowski drew a bases-loaded walk to plate the first run in the second, and Bordonaro later scored on a wild pitch. Senior Michele Anderson (Scotland, Conn.) capped the rally with a two-out single that scored a pair to put the Mariners up 6-1.

Bay Path answered with four runs in the third inning. Whitcomb started the scoring with a bases-loaded single that brought in a run, and both Gates and Samantha Gunseth (Swanzey, N.Y.) scored on a fielder’s choice. Safron scored the final run to cap the rally thanks to a Mitchell fielding error.

The Mariners never relinquished the lead, picking up four more runs in the fifth to go up 10-5. Pelletier came through with another RBI single while Bordonaro added an RBI double. Sophomore Nikki Hoxie (Winsted, Conn.) plated the final runs with a sacrifice fly to center that scored two runners due to a Bay Path throwing error.

The Wildcats scored two runs in the seventh inning but couldn’t climb all the way back. Whitcomb drove in both runs with a single and finished 3-for-4 in the game with four RBI. Bordonaro led the Mitchell offense with a 4-for-4 effort and scored three runs while Anderson went 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Thomas improved to 7-2 overall in the circle for the Mariners. She threw 4.0 innings and gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and struck out four. Torres pitched the final three innings and earned her first save of the season, allowing two runs on three hits.

Bay Path starter Ashley Provost (Ludlow, Mass.) yielded 10 runs (eight earned) on eight hits over six innings. She struck out six but walked seven and dropped to 5-5 on the season.

Bay Path will next play at Newbury College on Wednesday, April 14 at 3 p.m. Mitchell returns to action at Coast Guard on Tuesday, April 13 at 3 p.m.