Bentson, Sieber Start Senior Campaign Perfectly with 4-1 Win Over Bentley
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Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2014) – Seniors Mary Sieber (Massapequa Park, N.Y. / Massapequa) and Kelly Bentson (Brewster, N.Y. / Brewster) fueled a perfect start to their senior season as the Mercy College softball team opened the 2014 season with a 4-1 victory over Bentley University on Sunday morning.
The Mavericks also faced off against Alderson Broaddus University following the victory. Mercy battled back from a pair of two-run deficits to tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning before ultimately succumbing, 7-4.
Mercy starts the 2014 campaign 1-1 while Bentley fell to 0-3 with an afternoon loss as well and Alderson Broaddus improved to 4-9.
Mercy 4, Bentley 1
The Mavericks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the season as senior Natalie Wabshinak (New Fairfield, Conn. / New Fairfield) smacked a leadoff double to left field, advanced all the way to third on a sacrifice and came around to score on a two-out infield single by Bentson.
Sieber coaxed the first batter she faced into a four-pitch swinging strikeout and survived a two-out double to post a clean first inning of the season, which she immediately followed with a leadoff infield single in her first at-bat in three years.
Mercy tacked on two more runs in the top of the third inning as the first three batters reached base, with junior transfer Megan Johnson (Gilbert, Ariz. / Phoenix College) beating out the throw to home on another Bentson single and junior Jackie Couillard (Wolcott, Conn. / Wolcott) scoring on a sacrifice fly by freshman Julie Gross (Port Monmouth, N.J. / Middletown North).
Sieber did not allow a runner past first base over the next two innings and Bentson belted a first-pitch solo shot to straightaway center to make it 4-0 in the top of the fifth. Freshman Jordyn Moquin (Southington, Conn. / Southington) came on in relief and surrendered just one run, picking up the three-inning save.
Bentson was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and one run while Wabshinak also recorded a multi-hit day, going 2-for-3 with a walk and stolen base. Sieber struck out three batters, allowing just three hits and one walk while forcing eight groundouts over four innings to earn the win. Moquin blew away five batters of the 11 batters she faced while surrendering just two hits and one walk over three innings.
Mercy 4, Alderson Broaddus 7
Alderson Broaddus was somewhat fortunate to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning as a one-out error was just enough to get the runs across despite just two singles in the frame. Mercy responded immediately, however, as Johnson drew a four-pitch walk with two outs to set the table for Couillard, who smashed a home run to centerfield to tie the game.
Both teams recorded a 1-2-3 second inning before the Battlers regained the lead on a two-out, two-run homer of their own in the top of the third. The Mavericks pulled one run back in the bottom of the frame as junior transfer Eryn Martinez (Moreno Valley, Calif. / Santa Ana CC) led off with a single and came around to score on an infield single by Couillard.
Neither team threatened to score over the next two innings, but Mercy tied the game back up at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning when sophomore Amanda Gardiner (Stratford, N.J. / Sterling) led off with a pinch-hit single and was joined on the base paths by freshman Alicia Pavadore (Taunton, Mass. / Taunton) and Wabshinak via a walk and infield single, respectively, to load the bases. Martinez picked up the RBI as pinch-runner sophomore Milana Gilaga (Elmwood Park, N.J. / Memorial) scored and reached base safely on an error by the first baseman, but a fly out and double play ended the inning before Mercy could build up a lead.
Alderson Broaddus would take advantage in the top of the seventh inning, immediately loading the bases and scoring three runs despite not recording a single hit. Bentson singled with one out in the Mavericks' last chance, but another double play ended their hopes.
Couillard finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run while freshman Anna Cochis (Clifton Park, N.Y. / Catholic Central) impressed in her collegiate debut, striking out two batters over 3 1/3 spotless innings.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks will continue their Florida trip tomorrow as they face Northwood University (4-3) at 1:00 p.m. before a rematch against Alderson Broaddus at 3:00 p.m.
