Cusumano throws a no hitter as Mercy sweeps Bridgeport in ECC matchup
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Mavericks (7-7, 2-0 ECC) move to .500 and are now undefeated in the East Coast Conference, while the Purple Knights fall to (5-11, 0-2 ECC)
Game 1: Mercy 9, Bridgeport 0
As has been the case for most of the season, Cusumano made the start in the circle and once again pitched an impressive five innings in game one of the ECC matchup against Bridgeport. She allowed no hits and struck out 14 batters for the Mavericks.
Game one was scoreless until the top of the third inning when Mercy took the plate. The Mavericks were able to capitalize on three wild pitches in a row as senior Milana Gilaga, junior Katiana Golino, and junior Liza Ueno were all able to advance on wild pitches, earning the first run of the game. It would be RBI from freshman Rebecca Souza, junior Julie Gross, and freshman Joelle Salisbury that would drive in four more runs for the Mavericks. The third inning came to a close with Mercy holding a 5-0 lead, while recording four hits.
The top of the fifth would be the next time Mercy would get hot. As Gilaga was able to start the inning of scoring when she scored on a passed ball. Souza, Gross, and Morgan Lloyd would be the final three to score for the game. Mercy was able to score four more runs that inning.
Cusumano shut the door and secured the shutout for the Mavericks, as she struck out three batters for the Purple Knights in the bottom of the fifth.
Game 2: Mercy 10, Bridgeport 1
The Purple Knights were able to have more of a presence in the game two, as they recorded five hits and scored one run against the Mavericks.
However, it was not enough, as Mercy was able to have a total of eight hits, eight RBI, and score ten runs to Bridgeport's one.
Gross had a strong game two, as she recorded two hits and three RBI for the Mavericks. On the mound for the Mavericks was freshman Jollee Salisbury, who pitched a total of four innings. Junior Jackie Kielty pitched the final inning of the second game.
The Mavericks scored first in game two, with the first run coming from sophomore Morgan Lloyd after junior Liza Ueno doubled to right center. Mercy tacked on three more runs of the game in the following inning when freshman Rebecca Souza, freshman Kaylee Stevens, and senior Amanda Gardiner all scored on two hits and capitalizing on an error on the Purple Knights.
The fourth and fifth inning were the most successful for the Mavericks as they scored a combined six runs in two innings. Mercy was on a roll in the fifth inning, where they scored a total of four runs, and had two hits.
It was Stephanie Dean who put the Purple Knights on the board in the bottom fifth when she scored off a RBI from Kalia Crandall.
Alyssa Bua pitched a total of 3.2 innings for Bridgeport, allowing six hits and striking out one batter. Amanda Stahelli pitched the remaining 1.1 innings and allowed three hits.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks will return to action on Thursday, March 24th as they travel to Queens College in their next ECC doubleheader beginning at 2:30 pm.
