Softball Rides Sieber's Eight Inning Complete Game to 3-2 ECC Win Over Molloy
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 19, 2014) – Senior Mary Sieber (Massapequa Park, N.Y. / Massapequa) hurled an eight-inning complete game to record the victory over East Coast Conference powerhouse Molloy College on Saturday afternoon.
Mercy split the doubleheader to improve to 10-29 overall and 6-16 in the ECC, while Molloy is now 21-16 (13-5).
Mercy 3, Molloy 2 (8 inn.)
The Lions started out the day with runners on first and second base with just one out, but Sieber got out of trouble as she did not allow a ball to get out of the infield the entire inning. The Mavericks mustered a base runner in each of the next three innings, and although they were unable to make anything of it, Sieber continued to lock down the Molloy offense, allowing just a leadoff solo home run in the top of the fourth inning.
The Mavericks offense responded immediately, as junior Jackie Couillard (Wolcott, Conn. / Wolcott) led off with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by junior Megan Johnson (Gilbert, Ariz. / Phoenix College) before coming around to score on a single by senior Kelly Bentson (Brewster, N.Y. / Brewster).
Molloy loaded the bases with one out on a single, hit-by-pitch and walk in the top of the fifth inning, but again Mercy answered with an RBI double by Couillard to score senior Natalie Wabshinak (New Fairfield, Conn. / New Fairfield).
The game went into extra innings as neither side could get to the opposing pitcher, including a 1-2-3 seventh inning in both frames. Molloy looked ready to take the lead in the top of the eighth as a leadoff double allowed a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third base, but Johnson and Wabshinak recorded the final two outs to give Mercy a chance to win in the bottom of the frame.
Couillard was able to reach base with one out thanks to an error and soon the Mavericks had loaded the bases on a Johnson single and intentional walk to Bentson. Freshman Julie Gross (Port Monmouth, N.J. / Middletown North) was called upon to pinch-hit and came through in the clutch, lining a single to left field to drive in the game-winning run.
Couillard was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and one RBI while Gross was a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk and one RBI. Sieber struck out four while surrendering just two earned runs over her eight-inning outing.
Mercy 4, Molloy 6
Game Two was tightly contested early on as well, but the Mavericks jumped out to the lead this time. Mercy was unable to capitalize on a leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning by Wabshinak, but senior Brittany Serrao (Lake Hiawatha, N.J. / Parsippany) recorded three 1-2-3 innings in the circle to open the game and helped her own case at the plate with a double down the left field line to score junior Michelle Duford (Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada / Seward County CC) in the bottom of the second for the 1-0 lead.
An error finally allowed Molloy to get onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning, and the Lions took a 2-1 lead. Mercy had a chance to move back ahead as freshman Jordyn Moquin (Southington, Conn. / Southington) led off the bottom of the fifth with a single but could not be brought home.
Molloy's bats finally came alive in the top of the sixth inning as back-to-back errors extended the inning to allow four runs to cross the plate, giving the Lions a 6-1 lead. Mercy's offense fought back in the bottom of the sixth, but could only plate three runs and ultimately fell short, 6-4.
Wabshinak, Johnstone, Bentson and Moquin each reached base twice. Serrao struck out two while not allowing a single earned run in 5 1/3 innings, while freshman Anna Cochis (Clifton Park, N.Y. / Catholic Central) punched out one in 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks will head to Dowling College (20-19, 13-9) for another ECC doubleheader on Tuesday, Apr. 22.
