New London, CT - the Vermont State University Lyndon softball team returned to the diamond for the first time in 17 days on Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Hornets, they dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader at Mitchell College. With the sweep, the Mariners improved to 5-3 on the season, while the Hornets remained winless in nine outings.
Game 1 - Mitchell 11, VTSU Lyndon 3
Lyndon jumped in front in the top of the second inning when Lindsey Gannon (Beverly, MA) doubled leading off, then scored on Seairra Anderson's (Somersworth, NH) base hit back up the middle. After Bailey Quire (Gainesville, FL) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch, Kazandra Gonzalez (Norwalk, CA) grounded out, driving in Quire and making it 2-0 Lyndon.
Mitchell plated two runs in the bottom of the second to tie things. The Mariners scored in each of the next five innings as well to pull away for the win. Brooke Whitmarsh had a triple, a single, two runs scored, and two runs batted in to pace Mitchell. Gemma Landry and Brooke Clancy each had two-run doubles for Mitchell.
Gannon and Anderson had two hits apiece for Lyndon. Gonzalez drove in a pair of runs.
Emily Reynolds went the distance in the circle to earn the win. She allowed seven hits while striking out three without a walk. Quire took the loss for Lyndon, allowing nine earned runs and 11 hits.
Game 2 - Mitchell 9, VTSU Lyndon 1
Lyndon again took the early lead in the nightcap. With one out in the top of the first inning, Blake Southworth (Bethel, VT) was hit by a pitch, She later came around to score on Riley McNamara's (Manchester, NH) RBI single.
Mitchell's Kaylee Drago would deliver a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning to put the Mariners in front, and Mitchell would never look back. Drago went three for four for the game with four runs batted in. Whitmarsh had a double and two singles, with two runs scored and an RBI. Clancy and Olivia DeCicco added two hits apiece.
Lyndon only managed four hits for the game. McNamara added another single, and Seairra Anderson and Claudia Knapp (Howell, NJ) had one hit each.
Katelyn Goodman started and picked up the win in the circle. She allowed two hits and struck out two over four frames, before DeCicco came on for two innings of scoreless relief. McNamara started for Lyndon and took the loss.
Lyndon returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Westfield State University for another non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
