Maddie Machado led the charge with a 5-for-8 day at the plate that included three doubles, a homer and three RBI against the Mariners. (Photo by Ed Habershaw)
Maddie Machado led the charge with a 5-for-8 day at the plate that included three doubles, a homer and three RBI against the Mariners. (Photo by Ed Habershaw)

Salve Regina sweeps softball twinbill at Mitchell

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Salve Regina University picked up a pair of victories over Mitchell College on Tuesday afternoon, winning by final scores of 14-8 and 3-2 in non-conference softball action at Alumni Field.

The Seahawks slugged four home runs in the sweep to improve to 15-12 on the season. Maddie Machado (Westport, Mass./Bishop Stang) led the charge with a 5-for-8 day at the plate that included three doubles, a homer and three RBI. Lauren Packer (Manchester, Conn./Manchester)Jaycee Garrigan (Uxbridge, Mass./Uxbridge) and Amanda Riley (Barrington, N.H./Coe Brown Northwood Academy) also went deep as the Seahawks combined for 18 hits in the twin bill.

Kaitlin Thibodeau-Corey (Peabody, Mass./Peabody Veterans Memorial) went 3-for-6 with a double and four RBI to pace Mitchell. Alex Lopez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Los Osos)added a double and a home run and also knocked in four runs.

Mitchell (8-13 overall) will next play at Becker College on Saturday, April 13 at noon. Salve Regina returns to action at Western New England University on Saturday at noon.

Game 1 – Salve Regina 14, Mitchell 8

The visitors put up four runs in the second inning to take control early. Emilee Angell (Whitinsville, Mass./Northbridge) drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right-center. Lindsey Florent (New Bedford, Mass./Bishop Stang) followed with an RBI triple and quickly scored on a double by Machado.

The 4-0 lead stood until the Mariners rallied for seven runs in the fifth. A two-run double by Thibodeau-Corey got Mitchell on the board, and an RBI single by Nene Capeles (Bridgeport, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) closed the gap to one. A pair of walks then loaded the bases for Lopez, who drilled a towering shot over the fence in right-center to give the Mariners their first lead at 7-4. The home run was her second of the season.

The Seahawks didn't wait long to respond, striking for eight runs in the top of the sixth to go up 12-7. Seven of the eight runs came with two outs on the board, and Riley and Packer both supplied three-run homers in the frame.

Garrigan picked up the win in relief, closing out the final 2.1 innings to improve to 1-2 on the year. Starter Julia Coute (North Dighton, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) allowed four runs on six hits over 4.2 innings of work.

Mitchell starter Taylor Duchesneau (Killingly, Conn./Killingly) surrendered 11 runs (four earned) on 10 hits over 5.2 innings in defeat.

Game 2 – Salve Regina 3, Mitchell 2 (5 innings)

Salve Regina snapped a 2-2 tie in the fifth on an RBI double by Machado. Reliever Andi Nelson (Candia, N.H./Londonderry) then retired the Mariners in order in the home half to secure the win in a game shortened by darkness.

The Seahawks took a 2-0 lead in the third behind back-to-back homers from Machado and Garrigan. Machado launched her solo shot down the left-field line and Garrigan followed with a blast to left-center.

Mitchell made up the difference in the fourth. After a double by Lopez put two runners in scoring position with one out, Thibodeau-Corey singled to right to cut the deficit in half. The Mariners then loaded the bases and tied the game as Maliah Pabellon (Bridgeport, Conn./Central) drew a walk to force in a run. Salve Regina made a pitching change and got out of the jam as Nelson struck out the next two batters to keep the game knotted at 2-2.

A one-out triple by Nikki Vanelli (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown Community) set the table for Machado in the fifth. The Seahawks finished with four extra-base hits in the nightcap.

Nelson didn't allow a hit in 1.2 innings of relief and improved to 11-4 inside the circle. Courtney Latta (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) got the starting nod and lasted 3.1 innings while yielding two runs on four hits.

Mitchell starter Suzanne Vachon (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford) allowed three runs on five hits while striking out two.