Cusumano Tosses Complete-Game Shutout as Softball Picks Up First Win of 2016
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Box Score 2 FLORENCE, S.C. (Feb. 20, 2016) – Powered by a complete game shutout from freshman McKaily Cusumano (Monroe, Mich./Monroe), the Mercy College softball team picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over host Francis Marion University in the Mavericks first game of the day on Saturday afternoon. The Mavericks dropped a 23-3 decision to Hillsdale College in five innings in the second game of the day at FMU Softball Stadium.
The Mavericks (1-3) defeated a Patriots (7-3) squad that entered the contest 7-2, while Hillsdale (3-1) has won three of their first four games to begin the season.
Cusumano finished the opener with only five hits allowed and struck out five to pick up her first collegiate win in the circle. Sophomore Marlena Marzigliano (Highland Mills, N.Y./Cornwall) went 2-for-5 on the day with two runs scored and the game-winning RBI against Francis Marion. Freshman Joelle Salisbury (Rotterdam, N.Y./Notre Dame/Bishop Gibbons) went 2-for-3 on the day and made the start in the circle in game two. Junior Julie Gross (Port Monmouth, N.J./Middletown North) concluded the afternoon 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.
Mercy 1, Francis Marion 0
A pitcher's duel broke out in the opening game of the day as the two teams combined for just eight hits in the contest. The hosts threatened in the first inning as they got a runner to third with two outs, but Cusumano induced a grounder to end the threat.
Francis Marion would threaten again in the sixth as they put runners on second and third but Cusumano escaped the jam unharmed as they received a fielder's choice to end the frame.
The Mavericks finally broke the scoreless drought in their half of the sixth as Gross led off the inning with a double to left center. Following a failed bunt attempt, Marzigliano came through and delivered an RBI single to center field that scored Gross from second to make it 1-0. Mercy looked to add on an insurance run but were unable to and headed into the final inning up just one.
The Patriots looked to begin a rally in the seventh but a leadoff single turned into an out at second as the Mavericks caught the runner sliding over the bag after an errant throw at first. Cusumano settled in and retired the next two batters on groundouts to end the game and give Mercy the victory.
Hillsdale 23, Mercy 3
The nightcap saw the Mavericks carry over the momentum from the win earlier in the day as following a leadoff walk by Marzigliano and a Joelle Salisbury single, Gross delivered a sacrifice fly to center that put Mercy up 1-0 after the top of the first.
Hillsdale came right back with a three-spot in the bottom half of the inning as three walks, a hit by pitch, a wild pitch and an error helped setup the scoring for the Chargers without recording a hit in the frame.
The Mavericks looked to answer in the top of the second but were unable to and Hillsdale responded by putting up six runs on three hits to take a 9-1 lead after two innings of play. Mercy came back with a pair in the third as Alyssa Salisbury (Rotterdam, N.Y./Notre Dame/Bishop Gibbons) doubled home Marzigliano and later scored in the inning on an attempted steal of second.
Hillsdale led 9-3 heading into their half of the third and would break the game open as they put up nine runs on nine hits to take an 18-3 lead after three innings and cruised to the win in five innings via the run-rule.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume play tomorrow as they take on Fairmont State at 10 a.m. and Francis Marion at 12 p.m. in South Carolina.
