A mill is a device that chews up grain and spits it out. In the Dartmouth softball team's doubleheader against UMass-Lowell, it was pitcher Laura Mills '00 who chewed up River Hawk batters and spit them out.
Dartmouth's ace starter and captain won both ends of the twinbill at Sachem Field, lasting the full seven innings for the 3-1 win in the opener and before pitching three-and-a-third innings of one-hit relief in the nightcap, won by the Green 8-5.
In her 10-plus innings of work, Mills allowed one run on four hits while striking out eight.
Although softball is a team game, Mills clearly stood out on her own yesterday.
The Green (13-24, 2-8) did enjoy other star performances.
In the opener, center fielder Sarah Damon '02 tripled and scored Dartmouth's first run. Later on, she gave the Green an insurance tally with her RBI sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
Several hitters shone for the Green in an offensive explosion in the second inning of the second game. After Dartmouth had already scored two runs in the inning, number-nine hitter Kate Winter '00 slammed a double into the left-center field gap, scoring two more.
The four-run second mitigated the four runs the Green had given up in the top of the second.
Also starring at the plate was the game two starting pitcher Chiara Grabill '01. Despite herself having a tough time on the mound, Grabill gave fits to opposing pitchers Danielle Bretton and Sarah Gagnon, going three-for-four with two doubles and a run scored.
Damon added two hits in the nightcap, scoring two runs. Catcher Carrie Sekela '01 and Winter, the rightfielder, also hit safely twice.
But the key to Dartmouth's victorious afternoon was its pitching. In the opener, Mills outdueled the Riverhawks' Katie Barber, who only allowed six Dartmouth runners to reach base.
Mills mixed hard fastballs with several off-speed pitches to fool the River Hawk hitters.
In several innings Mills pitched out of trouble, leaving seven UMass-Lowell runners stranded on base over the course of seven innings.
After allowing a lone run in the third inning, Mills would shut down all further River Hawk attempts.
In the second game, Grabill was knocked off the hill in the fourth inning, though she remained in the game as the designated player.
Little-used reliever Megan Hitchner '01 -- who had pitched three innings all season prior to yesterday's game -- walked two and threw a wild pitch in two-thirds of an inning before giving way to Mills.
With the bases loaded, Mills entered the game and blew away the River Hawks' star shortstop and senior captain Tricia Metz to end the inning.
Mills kept the ball on the ground for the rest of the game, giving up the solitary hit and only two fly-ball outs. With the second victory, Mills ran her record to 6-13. Her complete game in game one was her 15th of the season.
The wins extend Dartmouth's best-ever win total to 13 and bring the Green back over a .333 winning percentage, which has been something of a benchmark goal for the Green this year.
A final triumph would close out the Ivy League season well.
The Green travel to Harvard for a doubleheader on Thursday for their final conference games of the year. Another sweep would leave the Green 4-8 in Ancient Eight play.
After Harvard, the Green return home on Friday for a double-dip against Central Connecticut.
