Softball Splits Doubleheader with Bridgeport in ECC Action
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Box Score 2 BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Mar. 29, 2012) – On Thursday afternoon, the Mercy College softball team dropped the first game of its doubleheader with the University of Bridgeport, 4-3 in nine innings. The Mavericks came back in Game 2 to pounce on the Purple Knights, 14-3. Following the twinbill, the Purple Knights' record changed to 10-13 overall and 4-6 in the league, while the Mavericks' changed to 13-12 on the year and 3-5 in conference play.
Game One: Bridgeport 4, Mercy 3 (9 innings)
Down 2-0 in the top of the sixth inning, Mercy senior centerfielder Jenna Ausiello (Petaluma, Calif.) singled home junior outfielder Courtney Butler (Islip, N.Y.) to cut the Mavericks' deficit to one.
Mercy took the lead one inning later when freshman Shelby Johnson (Bullhead City, Ariz.) and sophomore third baseman Brittany Serrao (Lake Hiawatha, N.J.) recorded back-to-back RBI doubles. The Purple Knights tied it up in the bottom of the seventh and the two sides headed to extra innings.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Bridgeport was able to squeeze across the winning run.
For Mercy, sophomore Mary Sieber (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) was strapped with the loss out of the bullpen (4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 4 K). Sophomore Alexandra Puglisi (Shelton, Conn.) started the contest and surrendered one run (zero earned) on four hits.
Game Two: Mercy 14, Bridgeport 3 (6 innings)
The Mavericks exploded for 14 total runs in the second game of the twinbill. In the first inning, Johnson notched a two-run double, while freshman third baseman Chrissie Cleary (Smithtown, N.Y.) followed that up with an RBI single to left field.
Mercy returned one inning later to plate four additional runs off Bridgeport pitching. Cleary was at it again as she singled in two runs.
The guests scored in all but one inning and continued pounding the softball until the end. In the bottom of the sixth frame, Ausiello drove in two runs with a double to left center and sophomore second bagger Briana Panarese (Monroe, N.Y.) had an RBI single.
Puglisi earned the win (7-4) with three runs given up on four hits in 4.1 innings pitched. Serrao came on in relief and hurled 1.2 frames of shutout ball.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks return to action on Saturday when they travel to Queens to play the Knights of Queens College. The doubleheader starts at 1:00 p.m.
