Mitchell College Sports Roundup

The Mitchell College softball team defeated Bay Path College in two softball games, while the men’s tennis team shut out Wheelock College in a home match on Tuesday, defeating the Wildcats 9-0. The following information was provided by David Longolucco, sports information director at Mitchell College, and Christa Parulis-Kaye, assistant commissioner for media relations at the New England Collegiate Conference:

Softball

The Bay Path College Wildcats were swept by New England Collegiate Conference opponent the Mitchell Mariners today during the Wildcats senior send-off today at the Farmlea Road Field. The Mariners won the opener 6-1 and took the nightcap 11-2 in women’s softball action. Junior infielder Emily Evans (Westford, Mass.) led the Wildcats hitting safely in both games. Evans finished with a .600 batting average (3-for-5).

In game one, Bay Path struck first in the bottom of the third. Senior honoree and leadoff centerfielder Katie Begin (Weare, N.H.) reached on an error by the Mariners’ first baseman. Begin would score the lone run after freshman hurler Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.) plated her on a shot to right center.

Mitchell would answer in the top of the fourth scoring two runs including the eventual game winner. Junior outfielder Shannen Pelletier (Coventry, R.I.) notched both RBI on double down the left line plating sophomore catcher Meghan Burke (Bronx, N.Y.) and sophomore infielder Tiffany Person (Waterbury, Conn.).

Mitchell would return in the fifth and score four more insurance runs from Burke, Person, senior outfielder Jen Bordonaro (Winsted, Conn.)  and junior infielder Nikki Hoxie (Winsted, Conn.). Bordonaro and Person each shelled doubles, while Burke tallied a single shot.

Junior pitcher Marissa Thomas (New London, Conn.) earned the win after tossing seven innings giving up five hits and only one run. Thomas (10-6) struck-out six for the game. She would eventual notch the nightcap victory as well allowing two runs on four hits while fanning seven in the second game.

Dougherty (5-8) suffered the loss. She scattered nine hits and six runs, five earned. Dougherty struck out six and walked one for the seven innings.

Person scored first for the Mariners in the second off of a double shot down the left line by freshman infielder Chelsea Arpin (Killingly, Conn.). Arpin would cross the plate on a wild pitch.

Bay Path would reply in the bottom of the second to knot the score 2-for-2. Senior honoree catcher Jessica Priestly (Middleboro, Mass.) launched a two-run homer over the centerfield fence. Priestly would bring freshman catcher /infielder Mercedes Griffith (Malden, Mass.) along for the ride. Griffith went 2-for-6 along with Dougherty for the day.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they could not prevent the Mariners from scoring three more runs in the third along four in the sixth and two more in the seventh.  Out of the nine additional runs added by Mitchell only three of them were earned including the winning run in the third scored by Bordonaro.

Senior honoree Alex Putnam (Topsfield, Mass.) suffered the loss allowing eleven runs, only five earned on 14 hits. Putnam (4-8) fanned four and gave up two free trips to first.

Bay Path falls to 9-16 overall and 3-10 in the NECC, while Mitchell improves to 13-15 on the season and 10-4 in conference play.

Men's Tennis

The Mariners (9-2 overall, 6-1 NECC) have won seven straight matches and beat the Wildcats (2-8 overall, 2-6 NECC) for the second time this season. The win also kept Mitchell in the running for a share of the NECC regular season crown.

Mitchell started the match up 2-0 as Wheelock, with only five players available, had to forfeit at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. The Mariners took the remaining doubles points to start the match and then finished things off in singles without dropping a set.

Junior Kyle Carmona (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) remained unbeaten on the season with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Wilson Chang (Lee, Mass./Lee) at No. 1 singles. Carmona also teamed with sophomore Rocco Devona (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) to post an 8-1 win at No. 1 doubles. Devona took care of business at No. 2 singles and didn’t lose a game to Tyler Linhares (Central Falls, R.I./Shea).

Juniors Tyler Engleberg (Niantic, Conn./East Lyme) and Alex Fusco (Saugus, Mass./Saugus) came away with an 8-0 win at No. 2 doubles. Engleberg then carried that momentum into singles play and beat Jeff Silveria (Wilmington, Mass./Merrimack Valley) by scores of 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 3 spot. Senior Adam Samuels (New Rochelle, N.Y./Soundview Prep) and junior Andrew Small (Westerly, R.I./Westerly) rounded out the day with wins at the No. 4 and 5 spots, respectively, for the Mariners.

Mitchell wraps up the regular season with a showdown against undefeated Lesley University on Wednesday, April 27 at 3:30 p.m. A win for the Mariners would earn them a share of the NECC regular season title. Mitchell has won the title outright each of the past two seasons.

Wheelock has completed its regular season schedule but will compete at this weekend’s NECC Championship. Mitchell College will host the event, a flighted tournament that runs April 30 through May 1.