Lemus and Gross Combine for Six RBI in Game Two to Lead Softball to Split With Bridgeport
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Box Score 2 DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 27, 2017) – Powered by a combined six RBI from junior Skania Lemus (Chula Vista, Calif./Southwestern CC) and senior Julie Gross (Port Monmouth, N.J./Middletown North) in game two, the Mercy College softball team earned a doubleheader split with ECC foe University of Bridgeport on Thursday afternoon at Smith Field. Mercy dropped game one 4-1 before taking a 9-6 decision in game two.
The Mavericks (27-13, 16-6 ECC) snap a three-game losing streak in game two, while the Purple Knights (19-20, 7-11 ECC) have won two of three.
Game 1: Bridgeport 4, Mercy 1
Bridgeport scored all four of their runs in the top of the first to take a 4-0 lead after a half inning of play. Jenna DiLorenzo recorded the first run of the game with an RBI double to left field. The Purple Knights picked up their other three runs on bases loaded walks.
The Mavericks could not get on the board until the bottom of the seventh when Lemus doubled to right field to score freshman Kendall Meeks (Guysville, Ohio/Alexander), making it 4-1. A popup in the next at bat ended the threat and gave game one to Bridgeport.
Lemus went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Gross went 2-for-4. Junior Morgan Lloyd (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) and senior Janelle Wade (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) also recorded hits. Sophomore Kaylee Stevens (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal) pitched 2/3 of an inning with four earned runs allowed to take the loss.
Bridgeport was led by DiLorenzo who went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Kaitlyn Lajoie went the distance with one earned run allowed to pick up the win.
Game 2: Mercy 9, Bridgeport 6
The Purple Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two on a groundout and a home run in the top of the first. Mercy responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-2 lead. Lemus got the scoring started with an RBI single to center field and was brought home by a Gross double in the next at bat. The Mavericks added another run in the frame to take the lead.
Bridgeport answered with a run in the top of the second to make it a 3-3 game, but Meeks led off the bottom half of the inning with a home run to give the lead back to Mercy. Lemus later smacked a three-run home run in the inning to put the Mavericks up 7-3 after two innings.
The Purple Knights plated a run in the top of the third to make it 7-4 before Mercy tacked on a run in the inning on a double steal to bring the score to 8-4 after three innings. The Mavericks concluded their scoring in the fourth inning when Gross doubled home Wade to give Mercy a 9-4 lead.
Bridgeport scored two runs in the top of the seventh, but a strikeout to end the game gave Mercy the win.
Lemus went 2-for-3 with two runs and four RBI, while Gross went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Meeks went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while sophomore McKaily Cusumano (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) went 6 2/3 innings to earn the win.
Bridgeport was led by Meghan O'Leary who went 1-for-2 with a home run, while Alyssa Bua pitched one inning to take the loss.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks conclude their regular season on Saturday, April 29th at LIU Post at 12 p.m.
