Mitchell Wraps Up Spring Florida Games

The Mitchell College baseball and softball teams wrapped up their Florida games on Friday. The baseball team split a doubleheader against the Wentworth Institute of Technology, while the softball team lost two games to different schools. The following information was provided by David Longolucco, sports information director at Mitchell College.

Baseball: Wentworth 12, Mitchell 5; Mitchell 10, Wentworth 4

The Mitchell College baseball team split a doubleheader against Wentworth Institute of Technology on Friday evening at Lake Myrtle Park, falling 12-5 in the first game before bouncing back for a 10-4 win in the nightcap.

Game 1 – Wentworth 12, Mitchell 5

Mitchell got off to a good start in the first game as freshman Anthony Santiago (Newark, N.J./Bloomfield Tech) led off with a triple and later scored on a ground out by Perillo. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Leopards pushed across five runs in the bottom of the first to go ahead for good.

The Mariners got two runs back in the third inning on a two-run homer by junior John Apostolo (Queens, N.Y./St. Mary’s), his second long ball of the season. Apostolo also got the start on the mound for Mitchell but was chased from the game in the bottom of the third as Wentworth pounded out seven runs on five hits to take a 12-3 lead.

Apostolo allowed 12 runs (five earned) on eight hits in 2.2 innings while striking out two and walking four. Freshman Travis Gembecki (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Putnam Valley) threw 3.1 scoreless innings of relief and allowed only three hits.
Game 2 – Mitchell 10, Wentworth 4

Mitchell (3-2 overall) broke the game open with a seven-run third inning and senior hurler Paul Martinez (New London, Conn./New London) cruised to his second victory of the spring. The Mariners made the most of seven hits and drew eight walks in the contest.

Wentworth scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take a quick 2-0 lead. Mitchell cut the deficit in half in the second as Felix Colarte (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) scored on a fielding error. Colarte went 2-for-3 in the game with a double and triple and scored four times.

The Mariners sent a total of 13 batters to the plate in the third and plated seven runs on only three hits. Senior Jeff Perillo (Newington, Conn./Newington) and sophomore Osmer Collado (New York, N.Y./St. Agnes Boys) each drove in a pair of runs with singles, but it was Wentworth’s pitching which did the most damage with seven walks issued in the frame. Senior Carlos Hughes (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) scored the final run of the inning when the Mariners pulled off a double steal of second and home.

Martinez pitched 4.1 innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out eight and walking five. He improved to 2-0 overall on the season.

Mitchell next begins conference play with a doubleheader at Newbury College on Saturday, March 19 at 10 a.m.

Softball: Thomas More 12, Mitchell 0; Miscericordia 12, Mitchell 0

The Mitchell College softball team was swept on the final day of play at the Rebel Spring Games on Friday, falling 12-0 to Thomas More College and 12-1 to Misericordia University.

The Mariners (0-8 overall) were held to just one hit by Thomas More, a second-inning single by junior Brittany Zaccaria (White Plains, N.Y./Maria Regina). Freshman Tricia Tomaselli (Gulford, Conn./Guilford) got the starting nod for Mitchell inside the circle and allowed 12 runs (five earned) on 12 hits and struck out three in 5.0 innings.

In the second game against Misericordia, the Mariners jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to an RBI double by freshman Chelsea Arpin (Killingly, Conn./Killingly) that scored sophomore Meghan Burke (Bronx, N.Y./Preston). Aprin finished with two hits in the contest to lead the Mitchell offense.

Misericordia answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good. It would be enough support for starting pitcher Jess Armillay, who held the Mariners to just three hits over 5.0 innings.

Tomaselli got the start once again for the short-handed Mitchell pitching staff and surrendered nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits in 3.0 innings. Sophomore Tiffany Person (Waterbury, Conn./Crosby) threw the final frame and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits.

Mitchell will next play a doubleheader at Albertus Magnus College on Saturday, March 19 at noon. The games will be played at West Haven High School.