Gross Breaks Out with Six Hits over Doubleheader as Softball Tops NYIT, 14-8
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Apr. 10, 2014) – Freshman Julie Gross (Port Monmouth, N.J. / Middletown North) broke out with a career game the day after smashing her first three collegiate home runs at the JV level as the Mercy College softball team scored a season-high 14 runs in topping East Coast Conference rival NYIT on Thursday afternoon.
The Mavericks split the doubleheader to improve to 7-24 overall and 3-11 in the ECC, while NYIT is now 9-17 (4-12).
Mercy 14, NYIT 8
The Mavericks put runners on first and second base to start the game but would not get on the board until the top of the second inning, when the leadoff runner scored on a throwing error following Gross's double.
NYIT stormed back in the bottom of the third, plating two to take a 2-1 lead, but Mercy's bats broke out in the top of the fourth.
Despite two quick popups, the Mavericks loaded the bases and went on to score eight runs, all with two outs, to take a commanding 9-2 lead.
The Bears got one back in the bottom of the fifth, but the Mavericks added three more in the top of the sixth. NYIT responded with a five-run rally in the bottom of the frame to make it a four-run game at 12-8, but Mercy tacked on two more in the top of the seventh before freshmanAnna Cochis (Clifton Park, N.Y. / Catholic Central) closed the door.
Gross led the Mavericks at the plate as she went 4-for-5, including two doubles and a triple, with five RBI and one run. Junior Jackie Couillard (Wolcott, Conn. / Wolcott) also reached base four times, going 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs and one RBI. Junior Michelle Duford (Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada / Seward County CC) was 2-for-4 with a double, three runs and three RBI while junior Megan Johnson (Gilbert, Ariz. / Phoenix College) went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and one RBI. Senior Mary Sieber (Massapequa Park, N.Y. / Massapequa) picked up the win in the start, while Cochis tosses 1 2/3 scoreless innings to end the game.
Mercy 2, NYIT 3
Game Two looked ready to become a full-on pitcher's duel as both starters recorded a 1-2-3 first inning, but Gross got the Mavericks on the board with a RBI single to score Johnson in the top of the second inning.
NYIT matched that score with an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning and added two more on a home run in the bottom of the third.
Senior Kelly Bentson (Brewster, N.Y. / Brewster) made it a one-run game with an RBI double to score senior Ashley Johnstone (Bellmore, N.Y. / John F. Kennedy) from first base after she drew a two-out walk, but the Mavericks would see only one more base runner reach first before falling to split the doubleheader.
Gross was 2-for-3 with one RBI while Johnstone, Bentson, Couillard and Duford each earned their way on base as well. Cochis allowed just one earned run over three innings in the start while freshman Jordyn Moquin (Southington, Conn. / Southington) hurled three scoreless one-hit innings in relief.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks will host No. 18 LIU Post (24-4, 11-1) on Saturday, Apr. 12 at 12 p.m.
