Mitchell College Sports Roundup

Mitchell College dropped softball games against Olivet College and Wisconsin Lutheran College as well as baseball games against Kenyon College and Salem State University on Wednesday at the Gene Cusic Classic. The men’s lacrosse team also lost 12-6 result to Ferrum College. The following information was provided by David Longolucco, sports information director at Mitchell College:

Baseball: Kenyon 6, Mitchell 2; Salem State 9, Mitchell 6

In the day’s first game, Mitchell scored a run in the third inning and another in the ninth but managed little else against Kenyon starter Tyler Dierke, who worked into the final frame and allowed only four hits while striking out nine. The Lords finished the game with 14 hits led by a 3-for-4 day by Kyle Hardacker.

Senior Ethan Graynor (Leonia, N.J./Leonia) led off the third with a walk and scored from second base on a triple by freshman Gavin LaLima (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Freshman starter Mike Sturges (New Britain, Conn./New Britain) did his best to preserve the margin, retiring 11 straight batters at one point and allowing only one hit over the first four innings.

Mitchell surrendered the lead in the top of the fifth as Kenyon pushed across two runs on three hits with the benefit of a throwing error. The Lords added another run in the sixth and then broke the game open with a three-run eighth inning to lead 6-1.

The Mariners (1-6 overall) drew back-to-back walks to start the ninth, forcing Kenyon to pull Dierke and go to the bullpen in favor of Alex Kendall. Mitchell then scored a run on a fielding error before Kendall worked out of the jam by getting a double play and strike out to end the game.

Sturges threw 7.1 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits while striking out two. Junior Tyler Shultis (West Hurley, N.Y./Onteora) and freshman Matt Tallarini (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) finished out the game in relief and didn't allow a run.

In the second game against Salem State, Mitchell took a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning before the Vikings rallied back. Salem (6-1 overall) took the lead in the sixth inning and put the game away in the eighth behind long home runs by Brett Cahill and Ethan Trowt.

Mitchell (1-7 overall) returns home to open conference play against Newbury College on Sunday. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Softball: Olivet 3, Mitchell 2; Wisconsin Lutheran 8, Mitchell 2

In the day’s first game, the Mariners couldn't maintain an early 2-0 advantage and managed only four hits in the defeat. Olivet (1-0 overall) scored two runs in the third inning to tie the game and scratched across the go-ahead run in the sixth.

Mitchell got off to a quick start when junior Tiffany Person (Waterbury, Conn./Crosby) led off the contest with a single and later scored on a double to left field by classmate Meghan Burke (Bronx, N.Y./Preston). The Mariners added another run in the second frame when senior Shannen Pelletier (Coventry, R.I./Coventry) scored from third base on a throwing error after a bunt by Person.

Down to their final out in the seventh and trailing 3-2, the Mariners had hope when Person came through with a single to right-center and promptly stole second base to move into scoring position. However, Olivet pitcher Rachel Cook got the next batter to ground back to her for the game's final out.

Mitchell hurler Marissa Thomas (New London, Conn./Saint Bernard) pitched 6.0 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out two. Cook went the distance for the Comets and gave up two runs on four hits with one strikeout.

In the second game, Wisconsin Lutheran (4-2 overall) jumped out to a lead in the first inning and never trailed. Mitchell scored a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Pelletier and tacked on another run in the sixth when Pelletier scored from third base on a fielder’s choice. She finished 2-for-3 in the second game to lead the Mariners.

Mitchell (1-7 overall) returns to action at home against Lyndon State College on Saturday, March 24 at 1 p.m.

Men's Lacrosse: Ferrum 12, Mitchell 6

The Panthers (3-5 overall) scored the first four goals of the contest en route to the victory. Andrew Senft and Ethan Wakefield both finished with three goals and an assist to lead Ferrum while Dylan Burdick and Kyle Downey each added a pair of scores.

The Mariners (0-3 overall) got a pair of goals and an assist from sophomore Shane Sullivan (Quaker Hill, Conn./Waterford). Wayne Brookbanks (West Hartford, Conn./William H. Hall), Adam Grillo (Waterford, Conn./Waterford), Chris Joy (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) and Demetre Lyras (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) also added single goals for Mitchell.

Trailing 4-0 in the first quarter, Mitchell got on the scoreboard with 1:40 remaining thanks to a score from Grillo. Ferrum, however, responded with the next four goals to take its biggest lead at 8-1. The Mariners battled back to score three more goals by halftime and trailed 9-4 at the break.

Mitchell couldn’t make up any ground in the second half, settling for single scores in each quarter. The Mariners were outshot 50-14 in the contest and gave Ferrum 13 extra-man opportunities.

Ferrum goalie Damian Pulos played all 60 minutes in net for the Panthers and made three saves. Sophomore Peter Eshenfelder (Quaker Hill, Conn./Waterford) stopped 16 shots in goal for the Mariners.

Mitchell returns to action at Anna Maria College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.