Softball Splits Twinbill with Holy Family in Home Opener; Couillard Racks Up Seven RBI
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 18, 2012) – On Sunday afternoon, the Mercy College softball team took to Smith Field for its 2012 home opener against Holy Family University in doubleheader action. Game One saw sophomore starting pitcher Alexandra Puglisi (Shelton, Conn.) hurl an outstanding three-hit, complete game shutout in a 10-0 rout, while the Tigers grabbed Game Two, 8-3.
Game One: Mercy 10, Holy Family 0 (5 innings)
The Mavericks scored in nearly every inning. They started in the bottom of the first and never relented. In that frame, freshman catcher Jackie Couillard (Wolcott, Conn.) smashed a two-run single to right field to drive home sophomore first baseman Kelly Bentson (Brewster, N.Y.) and rookie second baseman Shannon Forbes (Nesconset, N.Y.).
In the bottom of the second inning, both Bentson and rookie third baseman Chrissie Cleary (Smithtown, N.Y.) notched RBI singles, while Couillard knocked in another pair of runs with a single to right centerfield.
For the Mavericks, Couillard finished with four RBI and was 2-for-2 at the plate, while Bentson went 2-for-2 and scored twice, and senior centerfielder Jenna Ausiello (Petaluma, Calif.) recorded a 3-for-3 performance and touched home plate two times.
Puglisi was stellar in the circle for Mercy. She allowed just three hits over five innings and walked none. She whiffed eight batters.
Game Two: Holy Family 8, Mercy 3
The Tigers were able to stroke the long ball in the second game of the doubleheader and that powered them to an 8-3 victory. In the top of the second, junior catcher Deanna Myers (Warminster, Pa.) smacked a two-run homer to right field. The following inning, freshman Erica Reis (Furlong, Pa.) did the same thing, except to center field. Junior Lindsey Iden (Rushland, Pa.) went back-to-back, hitting one out to left field.
Myers recorded her second two-run dinger of the day in the top of the sixth as she put one over the centerfield wall.
Down 8-0 in the bottom of the sixth frame, Couillard came to the plate as a pinch hitter and proceeded to launch a three-run homer to left field to cut the Mavericks' deficit to 8-3. That would be the final.
For Mercy, Couillard finished 1-for-1 with three RBI, bringing her day's total to 3-for-3 with a stellar seven RBI. Rookie pitcher Bryanna Kopczynski (Smyrna, Tenn.) was strapped with the loss (2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB).
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks return to the field on Tuesday, March 20 when they ignite East Coast Conference play and square off against Dowling College in doubleheader action. First pitch of Game One is slated for 3:00 p.m.
