Mitchell Softball Sweeps NECC Honors
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Three Mitchell College softball players were honored by the New England Collegiate Conference on Monday morning.
Junior Shannon O'Neil was named NECC Player of the Week while both sophomore Brittany Fiederlein and freshman Samantha DelConte were repeat selections for NECC Pitcher of the Week and NECC Rookie of the Week, respectively. The trio helped the Mariners to a 4-0 record last week that secured the program's first regular season title and the right to host the upcoming NECC Championship as the top seed.
O'Neil batted a team-high .833 with a double, eight RBI and six runs scored last week. She hit safely and drove in runs in all four games and reached base 14 times, and on the final day of the regular season she collected her 100th career hit. She went 6-for-7 with four RBI in a sweep of Wheelock College and followed that with a 4-for-5 effort with four RBI in a sweep of Southern Vermont College. She slugged .917 for the week and had an on-base percentage of .824, and she was flawless in the field in 27 total chances.
O'Neil has started all 30 games at first base and is batting a team-high .438 with 19 RBI and 20 runs scored. In league play she led the NECC in walks (13) and ranked second in batting average (.509) and on-base percentage (.597), fifth in doubles (7), sixth in slugging (.698) and 10th in RBI (16).
Fiederlein didn't allow a run in four starts last week and allowed only three hits in a combined 19.0 innings of work while striking out a total of 25 batters. She tossed a perfect game and a one-hitter in a series sweep of Wheelock and followed that with a two-hitter against Southern Vermont. She recorded three shutouts and combined for another as Mitchell outscored opponents 51-0 for the week.
Fiederlein has been named Pitcher of the Week three times this season and, along with a Player of the Week nod on April 13, has been recognized each of the last four weeks. In 27 appearances she is 15-7 overall with a 1.68 ERA and seven shutouts, and in league play she led the NECC in ERA (0.71), wins (15), strikeouts (104) and innings pitched (98.0).
DelConte hit .583 with a double, triple, five RBI and five runs scored last week and hit safely in all four games while reaching base 10 times and stealing two bases. She went 4-for-6 with three RBI against Wheelock and followed that with a 3-for-6 effort with two RBI against Southern Vermont. She slugged .833 for the week and didn't commit an error in 28 total chances.
DelConte has earned rookie accolades three times this season. She has started all 30 games behind the plate and is batting .392 with 13 RBI and 21 runs scored. In league play she led all catchers with a .483 batting average and hit safely in 16 out of 18 NECC contests.
Mitchell (17-13 overall, 16-2 NECC) will host the NECC Softball Championship on May 1-3. The double-elimination tournament kicks off on Friday with the host Mariners taking on either No. 4 Newbury College or No. 5 Lesley University at 10 a.m.
