NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Norwich University softball team split a pair of one-run games in its Northeast debut against Mitchell College on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field, dropping the first game 4-3 before rallying for a 2-1 victory in the finale.

Mitchell freshman Brittany Fiederlein tossed a complete game and struck out three in the opener to improve to 2-4 overall. Sophomore Jenny Groman (New Britain, Conn.) finished with two hits and knocked in a run to pace the Mitchell offense.

In the second game, Norwich rallied for two runs in the seventh to pull out the win. Starter Corinne Baita (Rochester, N.H./Spaulding) did her part as well, keeping the Mitchell lineup off balance the entire game. She gave up only one run on five hits and struck out six to improve to 3-2 overall.

Mitchell will next host Lyndon State College on Saturday, March 22 at 1 p.m. Norwich returns to action at home against Brandeis University on Sunday, March 23 at noon.

Game 1 – Mitchell 4, Norwich 3

The first two batters of the game gave the Cadets a 1-0 lead, as Kelly Travers (Whitman, Mass.) led off with a double to left and Melissa Rome (Enfield, Conn.) brought her home with a base hit. The Mariners responded in the home half, however, as a double by junior Lindsey Romagnino and a single by sophomore Shannon O'Neil each drove in runs and put Mitchell in front 2-1.

Norwich tied the game in the fourth thanks to a leadoff triple by Abby Belcher (Winthrop, Mass.) and a double by Justina George (Wallingford, Conn.). The Mariners answered with a two-run sixth inning that included a RBI single by Groman and a RBI double by sophomore Alexandra Blanchette.  

The Cadets threatened again in the sixth. Belcher led off with a triple to right and scored on a throwing error to make it 4-3. Another Mitchell error put the tying run on base, though Feiderlein worked around the miscue to secure the final two outs. She then set down the side in order in the seventh to seal the win.

Norwich starter Kaylie Miller (Long Lake, N.Y.) threw 6.0 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out one.

Game 2 – Norwich 2, Mitchell 1

Trailing 1-0 heading into the seventh inning, Norwich began the comeback when Chelsey Toney (Waterford, Vt./St. Johnsbury) drew a leadoff walk and Travers followed with a double. Rome then plated the tying run with a ground out to short, and Hershberger put the Cadets in front with a sacrifice fly to right to score Travers from third base.

The Mariners put a runner on second base with only out in the seventh, but Baita worked out of the jam by getting a line out and a strike out to end the game.

Mitchell's lone run came in the fifth on a leadoff homer by freshman Samantha Ryan the first of her collegiate career.

Mitchell starter Tricia Tomaselli took the loss despite a strong performance. She scattered nine hits over 7.0 innings and worked out of many tough spots before finally getting nicked in the seventh.

-CADETS-