Cusumano Strikes Out 12 as Softball Hosts Molloy
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 13, 2016) – Despite a strong pitching performance from freshman McKaily Cusumano (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) in game two and three hits on the day from junior Julie Gross (Port Monmouth, N.J./Middletown North), the Mercy College softball team dropped 10-0 and 3-1 decisions to ECC foe Molloy College on Wednesday afternoon at Smith Field.
The Mavericks (16-22, 7-13 ECC) fail to build off their win over Bridgeport on Monday, while the Lions (25-13, 14-4 ECC) have now won four in a row.
Game 1: Molloy 10, Mercy 0 (6 Inn.)
The opening game of the day saw the Lions put up six runs in the top of the first on five hits and two errors. The inning was capped off by a three-run home run from Milan Botte to give Molloy a 6-0 lead after the top of the first.
The Lions tacked on a run in the top of the third on a leadoff home run from Brianna Dalton to take a 7-0 lead. Tracey Balinskas capped off the scoring in the contest with a three-run home run in the sixth.
Mercy could only put together four hits in the contest with two coming from Gross. Seniors Milana Gilaga (Elmwood Park, N.J./Memorial) and Amanda Gardiner (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) recorded the Mavericks other two hits. Freshman Joelle Salisbury (Rotterdam, N.Y./Notre Dame/Bishop Gibbons) made the start and pitched 1/3 of an inning to take the loss. Molloy received a complete game from Chelsea Hawks who improved to 12-7 on the year.
Game 2: Molloy 3, Mercy 1
The nightcap saw a pitcher's duel breakout between Cusumano and Lions starter Jenna Turato. The game remained scoreless until the top of the fifth when Molloy scratched across an unearned run to make it 1-0.
The lead would not last long as sophomore Chelsea Konyar (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) continued her success in pinch hit situations with a pinch-hit double down the right field line that scored sophomore Marlena Marzigliano (Highland Mills, N.Y./Cornwall) to make it 1-1 after five innings.
After compiling just three hits in the first five innings against Cusumano, the Lions put together a pair of hits in the sixth with Botte contributing an RBI double that put Molloy up 2-1.
The Mavericks went down in order in the bottom half of the inning before the Lions scored another unearned run to make it 3-1. Mercy could not get any base runners in their final at bat and Molloy came away with the sweep.
The Mavericks finished with just three hits in the nightcap with Marzigliano, Konyar and Gross recording them. Cusumano continued her dominance in the circle with one earned run allowed and 12 strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they travel to Felician University for a doubleheader at 2:30 p.m.
