Kielty and Couillard Lead Softball to Split With LIU Post
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 11, 2015) – Powered by an eight-inning complete game gem from sophomore Jackie Kielty (Middleboro, Mass./Dean College) and a walk-off RBI double by senior Jackie Couillard (Wolcott, Conn./Wolcott) in game one, the Mercy College softball split a doubleheader with perennial ECC power LIU Post on Saturday afternoon at Smith Field, earning a 2-1 win in game one in eight innings before dropping the nightcap, 3-2.
The Mavericks (6-24, 5-8 ECC) split their fourth consecutive conference doubleheader, while the Pioneers (16-7, 12-1 ECC) saw their 12-game winning streak come to an end in the opener.
Game 1: Mercy 2, LIU Post 1
The opener saw a pitcher's duel unfold between Kielty and Pioneer starter Ashley Martin as neither team was able to break through on the scoreboard in the first four innings.
LIU Post broke the scoreless draw in the top of the fifth with a leadoff home run to left field off the bat of Kayla McCoy to make it 1-0. However, Kielty would allow only two hits the rest of the way and managed to keep the Pioneers off the scoreboard.
The Mavericks finally gave Kielty support in the bottom of the sixth as Couillard came through once again with a single to right field scoring sophomore Janelle Wade (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) to tie the game up at 1-1.
Neither team would break through in the seventh inning sending the game into extra innings. After working around a single in the Pioneer half of the eighth, Mercy would use a pair of hits in the bottom of the eighth, capped off by a Couillard walk-off double to right field that scored Wade again and gave the Mavericks a big 2-1 win over LIU Post in game one.
Couillard went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the opener, while freshman Melanie Palmieri (Staten Island, N.Y./Michael J. Petrides) ended up 2-for-3. Sophomore Liza Ueno (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin), Wade and junior Adriana Bencomo (Fresno, Calif./Fresno City College) each recorded a hit for the Mavericks. Kielty went eight strong with one earned run allowed on four hits with three strikeouts to move to 2-7 in the circle.
Game 2: LIU Post 3, Mercy 2
The nightcap saw another low-scoring affair break out with LIU Post coming out as the victor this time. The Pioneers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead following a lead-off triple and a sacrifice fly to right field by the next batter.
Mercy came back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first as Ueno hit a lead-off home run to left field to even up the score at 1-1 after one inning of play.
LIU Post retook the lead in the second with a two-run home run from Kayla McCoy to take a 3-1 advantage.
After a scoreless third inning, the Mavericks would inch closer with a run in the fourth on an RBI groundout by sophomore Katiana Golino (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) to make it 3-2. However, Mercy would record only two hits the rest of the way sending them to a game two loss.
The Mavericks received multi-hit games from Wade, senior Michelle Duford (Maple Ridge, B.C./Seward County CC) and sophomore Julie Gross (Port Monmouth, N.J./Middletown North) in game two. Ueno, freshman Morgan Lloyd (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) and junior Amanda Gardiner (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) notched the other three Mercy hits in the game.
Sophomore Anna Cochis (Clifton Park, N.Y./Catholic Central), who came in relief of starter Holly Pundick (Whiterock, B.C./Jefferson College) in the first inning, tossed 6 1/3 effective innings of relief with only two earned runs allowed on five hits to earn the loss.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks have a quick turnaround as they travel to Bridgeport tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
