NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College softball team clinched the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) South Division top seed for the 2026 conference playoffs as the Falcons defeated Mitchell, 2-1 in eight innings in game one behind a career performance by Annabelle Jabs (East Hartland, Conn.) before losing game two, 4-2.

Jabs finished game one with an eight inning complete game, striking out a career-high 14 batters and allowing ust one run on four hits and three walks.

Reilly Austin (Cumberland, R.I.) hit a game-winning walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth to give the Falcons the win in game one. She had two hits in each game.

Karla Carangelo (Cheshire, Conn.) and Amelia Ovalles (Lawrence, Mass.) each drove in a run in game two.

Madison Wilson (Belgrade, Me.) pitched four innings of scoreless relief in game two.

This is the first time since the 2022 season that the Falcons earned the top spot in the South Division.

Prior to the doubleheader, Jabs, Tessa D'Aquila (Old Saybrook, Conn.), Megan Cross (North Haven, Conn.) and Isabelle Smith (Meriden, Conn.) were each honored as part of senior day.

Game 1

THE BASICS

FINAL: Albertus 2 | Mitchell 1 (8 innings)

RECORDS: Albertus (20-14, 13-2 GNAC) | Mitchell (14-8-1, 7-8 GNAC)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jabs struck out two batters in each of the first four innings, allowing just two runners on base over the time. Her counterpart, Olivia DeCicco of Mitchell had four strikeouts during the first four innings and allowed five runners on base over the first four innings.
• Jabs struck out two more batters in the top of the sixth inning and left two runners stranded. The Falcons had a runner on third in the sixth inning after a double by Austin, but the Falcons were unable to get a run across.
• In the top of the eighth, DeCicco helped her own cause with an RBI single to center field to score Madison Cole, who was placed on second to begin the inning. Jabs had to get four outs in the inning after a dropped third strike, but left the bases loaded and struck out two more batters in the inning.
• Smith was placed on second to begin the bottom half of the inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Amelia Boulli then hit a grounder to second to score Smith and tie the game at 1-1. Natalia Hernandez came in as a pinch runner after a walk to Mikaela Schwippert (Whippany, N.J.). Austin came to the plate and ripped a 1-1 pitch to the left field wall and Hernandez came all away around to score the game-winning run.

IN THE CIRCLE

Albertus

Annabelle Jabs (W, 10-6) 8.0 IP | 4 Hits | 1 Run | 0 ER | 3 BB | 14 K

Mitchell 

Olivia DeCicco (L, 7-9) 7.2 IP | 5 Hits | 2 Runs | 1 ER | 3 BB | 5 K

AT THE PLATE

Albertus

Reilly Austin 2-for-4 | 2 2B | 1 RBI

Amelia Boulli 1 RBI

Mitchell

Olivia DeCicco 1-for-2 | 2 BB | 1 RBI

Game 2

THE BASICS

FINAL: Mitchell 4 | Albertus 2

RECORDS: Albertus (20-15, 13-3 GNAC) | Mitchell (15-18-1, 8-8 GNAC)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mariners scored two runs in each of the first two innings. Brooke Clancy had an RBI groundout and DeCicco drew a baes loaded walk to highlight the first two innings.
• Albertus had the first two runners on in the bottom of the third but a lineout which turned into a double play helped end the threat.
• The Falcons loaded the bases with three walks to start the bottom of the sixth inning. After a pop out, Carangelo brought home a run with an RBI groundout. Ovalles followed with an RBI single to put runners on the corners with two outs, but the Falcons were unable to get another run across.

IN THE CIRCLE

Albertus

Amelia Ovalles (L, 4-5) 2.0 IP | 2 Hits | 4 Runs | 2 ER | 5 BB | 3 K

Madison Wilson 4.0 IP | 3 Hits | 0 Runs | 0 ER | 3 BB | 0 K

Tessa D'Aquila 1.0 IP | 1 Hit | 0 Runs | 0 ER | 1 BB | 1 K

Mitchell

Arianna Drouin (W, 6-5) 7.0 IP | 5 Hits | 2 Runs | 2 ER | 5 BB | 3 K

AT THE PLATE

Albertus

Reilly Austin 2-for-3

Amelia Ovalles 1-for-3 | 1 RBI

Mitchell

Zoe Battersby 1-for-2 | 2 BB | 1 Run

Olivia DeCicco 1-for-3 | 1 BB | 1 RBI

NOTEWORTHY

D'Aquila pitched an inning of scoreless relief with a strikeout in game two.

Austin has 12 multi-hit games on the season.

Jabs has 101 strikeouts on the season, putting her second in the GNAC.

UP NEXT

The Falcons will go on the road to take on the United States Coast Guard Academy on Tuesday in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.