Three Combine For Six RBI as Softball Earns Split With Molloy
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Box Score 2 DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 15, 2017) – Powered by a combined four RBI from freshman Kendall Meeks (Guysville, Ohio / Alexander) and junior Baylee McCormick (Las Vegas, Nev./Indian Springs) in game one, and two home runs from freshman Destini Bullock (San Diego, Ca. / Helix) in game two, the Mercy College softball team earned a doubleheader split with East Coast Conference foe Molloy College in their home opener on Saturday afternoon at Smith Field. The Mavericks took the opener 6-3 before falling 8-3 in the nightcap.
The Mavericks (20-8, 11-5 ECC) take the season series against the Lions (20-14, 10-6 ECC) for the first time and remain in first place in the ECC standings. Mercy surpasses their ECC win total from all of last year with the game one win.
Game 1: Mercy 6, Molloy 3
The Lions would be the first to get on the board in game one, as Milan Botte was able to homer to left field to give Molloy a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Mavericks wasted no time offensively, as junior Skania Lemus (Chula Vista, Calif./ Southwestern CC) answered back with a home run of her own to right field, tying the contest 1-1 after one inning of play.
The Mavericks were able to increase their lead in the bottom of the second inning when junior Baylee McCormick (Las Vegas, Nev. / Indian Springs) singled to center field for a two run RBI, bringing Meeks and Bullock home to give the Mavericks a 3-1 lead entering the third inning. Three quick outs in the top of the third would put the Mavericks back at the plate, allowing them to add another run to the score when junior Cassidy Wootten (Ardsley, N.Y. / Monroe College) grounded out to first base for a sacrifice bunt. The Wootten bunt allowed junior Allie Pellizzaro (Victoria, British Columbia / Eastern Arizona CC) to score the fourth run for the Mavericks.
The Lions were able to get on the board again in the top of the fifth inning when Mikaela Tribby doubled down the right field line for two runs, putting Molloy only down by one run with a score of 4-3. Meeks was able to put game one away in the bottom of the fifth inning when she crushed a double to right center field, advancing to third on a throwing error on the Lions. Off the hit, Wootten and Bullock were both able to score, eventually earning the 6-3 win.
Meeks led the Mavericks in game one, going 1-for-2 in the batter's box with one run scored and one RBI. McCormick also recorded two RBI in game one.
Senior Jackie Kielty (Middleboro, Mass./Dean College) tossed six innings for the Mavericks, recording one strikeout and allowing four hits for the win. Sophomore McKaily Cusumano (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn the save. For the Lions, senior Chelsea Hawks threw all seven innings, recording eight strikeouts and nine hits.
Game 2: Molloy 8, Mercy 3
Despite two solo home runs from Bullock in the nightcap, the Mavericks were unable to persevere past the Lions. The first three innings remained scoreless in the nightcap, as both teams were not able to record a single hit until the bottom of the third inning.
The scoring began in the top of the fourth when the Lions were able to score four runs off of six hits to give them a 4-0 lead entering the bottom of the fourth inning. The Mavericks were able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth, when Bullock was able to blast her first solo home run to left center field to bring the score 4-1. Molloy answered back in the top of the fifth inning when Sarah Rambo hit a two-run home run to left center, increasing the Molloy lead to 6-1.
The Lions were able to score their remaining two runs in the top of the sixth inning. A single from Erin Clinton would bring Tiana DeOliveira home for Molloy and a sacrifice fly from Botte brought Kaitlyn Snyder home to bring the score to 8-1 in the top of the sixth inning.
Bullock was able to bring the Mavericks to two runs after she smacked her second home run of the contest down the left field line. Freshman Breanna Wheeler (Murrieta, Calif. / Vista Murrieta) was able to record the final run of the contest in the bottom of the seventh but it was not enough as the Mavericks eventually fell to the Lions 8-3 in the nightcap.
Sophomore Kaylee Stevens (Simi Valley, Calif. / Royal) threw 3.2 innings for the Mavericks in the loss, striking out one batter. Hawks earned the win for the Lions as she threw 6.1 innings and struck out 12 Mavericks.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks will return to action on Tuesday afternoon when they host St. Thomas Aquinas College on Tuesday, April 18th for an East Coast Conference doubleheader. Games are set to start at 2:30 and 4:30 pm.
