Bay Path Splits With Mitchell in NECC Softball Action
04.15.2009
The Bay Path College Wildcats were able to take game one against the Mariners of Mitchell College (4-3), but later fell in the nightcap (10-3) of New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) doubleheader softball action today at Ryan Field. Wildcats junior outfielder and pitcher Jess Nizinski of West Springfield, MA, led her team for the day batting .667 (4-for-6) with a perfect 1.000 slugging percentage adding two doubles, two RBIs, and one run.
In game one, Bay Path struck early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Bay Path junior and lead-off batter Sarah Gates of Crown Point, IN, jumped out early, nailing a double to left center. Next up to bat, Bay Path senior Sarah Wright of Canterbury, NH, reached on an error by Mitchell’s freshman first baseman Marissa Thomas of New London, CT. Bay Path freshman Maeghan Whitcomb of Lyndon, VT, plated both Gates and Wright on a double shot to left field.
With the score 2-0 for the next four innings, Mitchell answered back in the top of the fifth with freshman Stacey Suplicki of New London, CT, hammered her first homerun over the centerfield fence.
Nizinski put the Wildcats ahead in the bottom of the fifth scoring after reaching on another double shot down the left line. Wright brought her home after an incredibly placed bunt that resulted in a single and an RBI.
The Mariner’s finished off their scoring in a big way shellacking two more home runs from junior catcher Sara Krolikowski (Bristol, Conn.) and Suplicki nabbing her second of the game.
The Wildcats were able to answer their call and pull-off the game winner in the bottom of the sixth. Bay Path freshman catcher Kellie Lastowski of Turners Falls, MA, was placed on first after a hit by pitch, and fellow Bay Path freshman Vanessa Chaplin of Attleboro, MA, took over as a pinch runner. Chaplin stole second base, to gain the advantage on the bases. Nizinski would plate her after a nice hit up the middle.
Bay Path junior hurler Kristal Cormier of Rochester, NH, who is now 7-6, was awarded the win giving up three runs on four hits while fanning three for her 7.0 innings pitched.
In the nightcap, Mitchell took advantage of Bay Path’s errors and defensive efforts in the top of the fifth to grab eight runs securing a victory. Again, Bay Path jumped ahead 2-0 after the first two innings. Gates scored the first, and Bay Path senior and NECC Player of the Week Sarah Palmer of Topsham, ME, nabbed the RBI. Bay Path sophomore Kaitlin Begin scored the next run, unearned after reaching on a fielding error by Suplicki. Nizinski, again, nailed one to left-field to pick up another RBI. Unfortunately for the Wildcats they were unable to score again until the seventh.
The fifth inning was a breakdown of Bay Path’s defense, and Mitchell scored eight runs—three earned and five unearned. Mitchell added one more run in the seventh.
Bay Path tried for a final rally only managing one unearned run from Wright. Gates finished going 3-for-4 with one run, while both Wright and Nizinski went 2-for-3.
Bay Path is now 15-12 overall and 7-1 in the NECC. Bay Path will be on the road facing Elms on Saturday, April 18, at noon.
