OA Softball Ends Season, Falls to Mansfield, 1-0 in Extra Innings

Mansfield softball beat Oliver Ames on Thursday, 1-0 in extra innings to end OA's season and advance in the MIAA South Sectional Tournament.

In what was a pitcher's duel from the beginning, Mansfield’s Trish Hansen had 10 strikeouts during the game. OA’s Elizabeh Batsinelas had a total of seven strikeouts.

Despite the loss, the OA pitcher only allowed one hit - a 2nd inning single from Hansen. Batsinelas, a senior, ended the season with 141 innings pitched, 143 strikeouts, 1.09 ERA.

OA coach Lindsey Allison said their main focus was to keep Mansfield’s Bri Chiusano off the bases, and the team managed to succeed until the end of the game.

“We managed to keep off the bag all game,” she said. “We’ve been trying to work on spot defense all week, trying to create situations where we could get an out on any hit that she had.”

OA threatened numerous times throughout the game, including with runners on second and third at the bottom of the eighth inning, but the next two batters flew out.

“How about Trish [Hansen] pitching herself out of those spots,” Mansfield head coach Jinneane Sperrazza said. “It was unbelievable.”

In the bottom of the ninth, Mansfield’s Chiusano started off with a walk, then immediately used her speed to steal second on the next pitch.

“I don’t think you can keep her off the base for the whole game,” Sperrazza said . “In the ninth inning when it counts a division one athlete gets up, she gets on, she steals second – she didn’t steal second from a chicken wing catcher either that kid [Nicole] LeBlanc can really throw the ball.”

Michaela Bowes moved her to third with a sacrificial bunt. Trish Hansen put a shot right down the middle to bring her home.

“It was a really good game,” Sperazza said.

OA’s Lindsay Allison said she feels like her team played really well, but couldn’t take advantage of opportunities.

“We had a lot of left on bases,” she said. “Lots of opportunities to get it done we just couldn’t close the door unfortunately. I like to say that bats are contagioius and they made them contagious until third base. Something about that gate we couldn’t get through.”

Mansfield moves on to play Braintree tomorrow.

The Tigers finish with a Davenport Division Championship and a 10-11 record.