Bentson Blasts Three-Run Shot for Mercy's 10th Homer at ECC Rival Bridgeport
Box Score BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Mar. 29, 2014) – Senior Kelly Bentson (Brewster, N.Y. / Brewster) blasted the Mavericks' 10th home run of the season as the Mercy College softball team traveled to face East Coast Conference rival the University of Bridgeport on Saturday morning.
Bridgeport came away with a narrow 7-6 victory to improve to 10-11 overall and 5-0 in the ECC, while Mercy is now 3-16 (0-3). The second game of the doubleheader was postponed due to inclement weather.
The Purple Knights played small ball to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and tacked on three more in the fourth after senior Brittany Serrao (Lake Hiawatha, N.J. / Parsippany) recorded consecutive 1-2-3 innings in the second and third.
Mercy finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning, scoring five runs to take the lead, all with two outs in the frame. Senior Ashley Johnstone (Bellmore, N.Y. / John F. Kennedy) kicked off the scoring with an RBI double and came around to score on a bases-loaded single by junior Jackie Couillard (Wolcott, Conn. / Wolcott). Bentson then stepped to the plate and cranked the ball over the right field fence to clear the bases, giving the Mavericks a 5-4 lead.
Bridgeport regained the lead in the bottom of the frame, however. Mercy was unable to score in the sixth after advancing runner to second and third base with two outs, and could muster only one run in the seventh inning on a two-out double by junior Michelle Duford (Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada / Seward County CC).
Johnstone reached base three times to lead the Mavericks, going 2-for-3 with one walk, two doubles, one run and one RBI. Couillard, Bentson, senior Natalie Wabshinak (New Fairfield, Conn. / New Fairfield) and freshman Julie Gross (Port Monmouth, N.J. / Middletown North) each recorded a two-hit game, while freshman Jordyn Moquin (Southington, Conn. / Southington) struck out two hitters over a pair of scoreless innings in relief.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks will look to get back on track as they face a quartet of ECC rivals during the upcoming week, beginning at Queens College (14-8, 2-2) on Tuesday, Apr. 1 at 3 p.m.
