Mavericks split series with Chestnut Hill 11-3, 6-5 in home opener
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Game 1: Mercy 11, Chestnut Hill 3.
Gilaga and freshman Kaylee Stevens led the Mavericks to victory in game one with a combined five hits, five runs, and three RBI.
Chestnut Hill got off to an early lead, when Lily Winn was able to score on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning. The Mavericks followed up by putting themselves on the board in the bottom of the first, earning four runs off of seven hits. Junior Julie Gross was the fourth batter of the inning to step to the plate, hitting a double, allowing freshman Rebecca Souza and Gilaga to score the first two runs for the Mavericks. The following two runs of the inning would come from junior Liza Ueno and freshman Kaylee Stevens when junior Katiana Golino also nailed a double, bringing in the two runs.
The Griffins were still putting up a fight when Laura Eidam homered to right center field to bring teammate Alex Sauer and herself in for two runs in the top of the second, bringing the score to 4-3. However, that would be the last time Chestnut Hill would score in game one of the doubleheader.
The Mavericks were able to put game one away when they scored six runs on five hits and three errors in the bottom of the fourth inning. Stevens started the scoring when she singled to center field, advancing to second base on a Griffins error, bringing in freshman Alyssa Salisbury, freshman Rebecca Souza, and Gilaga on the play. Sophomore Clariet Saldana then reached first base on a dropped fly ball in left field, allowing Stevens to score for the Mavericks. Saldana and Golino were both able to score in the remainder of the inning. The Mavericks closed out the bottom of the fourth inning with an 11-3 lead. The Griffins stepped up to the plate in the top of the fifth but were unable to score, resulting in the first game being called after five innings.
Stevens pitched all five innings for the Mavericks, striking out three batters. Hunter Irvin and Briannen Holloway both pitched four innings for Chestnut Hill.
Game 2: Chestnut Hill 6, Mercy 5.
Eight separate Mavericks recorded one hit and five separate Mavericks scored in game two of the series against Chestnut Hill. However, it was not enough, as Mercy fell to the Knights 6-5 in eight innings of play.
Mercy came out strong in game two, as they were the first to score in the bottom of the second when Saldana singled to right field, bringing in sophomore Morgan Lloyd for the first run of the game. The Mavericks then increased their lead to 4-0 when Alyssa Gutierrez was able to steal home in the bottom of the fourth inning, followed by senior Alyssa Salisbury who was able to bring the score to 3-0 with two outs. Next up was sophomore Chelsea Konyar who singled to center field, bringing freshman Marisa Miano to home plate to bring the score to 4-0 Mavericks.
The Griffins were not done yet, when Jessica Pulis singled to left field in the top of the sixth allowing Laura Eidam to score for Chestnut Hill, bringing the score to 4-1. It would be the top of the seventh that would keep the Griffins in the game, when they were able to score three runs off of three hits to tie the score 4-4.
The Mavericks were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, resulting in the game entering an eighth inning. The Griffins stepped to the plate and were able to score two runs off of one hit and two errors, earning them the victory in the second game of the series.
Mercy used a total of four different pitchers in game two, with freshman Joelle Salisbury pitching the game high 5.2 innings, striking out four batters. Chestnut Hill's Nicole Eberhard and Kaitlyn Johnson both pitched a total of four innings.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks travel to Molloy College tomorrow, Saturday, Mar. 26 for a ECC doubleheader with game time set for 12:00 and 2:00 pm.
