MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 16, 2018) – Powered by a combined 13 RBI and four home runs from senior Skania Lemus (Chula Vista, Calif./Southwestern CC) and sophomore Destini Bullock (San Diego, Calif./Helix), the Mercy College softball team opened up their 2018 season with a 12-4 victory over Clarion University and a 9-1 triumph over East Stroudsburg University on Friday afternoon in Myrtle Beach.
The Mavericks (2-0) start 2-0 for the second straight year, while Clarion and East Stroudsburg both are 0-2 on the year.
Game 1: Mercy 12, Clarion 4
The opening game of the day saw Clarion jump out to a 1-0 lead after drawing a bases-loaded walk. The Mavericks responded right back in the bottom of the inning with two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Senior Morgan Lloyd (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk and Bullock produced a sacrifice fly to give Mercy the lead.
The Mavericks increased the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the third with Bullock hitting a three-run home run to center field. Mercy tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to build a 7-1 lead. Junior Kaylee Stevens (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal) hit a sacrifice fly and freshman Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) capped off the scoring in the frame by scoring on a wild pitch.
Clarion inched closer in the top of the fifth with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to make it 7-4. Mercy put the game away in the sixth inning scoring five runs on five hits. Lemus started the scoring with a three-run home run to left field and Bullock added an RBI single to make it 11-4. Junior Emma Gilaga (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial) finished off the game with an RBI single that scored Bullock, giving Mercy the win via the run rule.
Bullock went 2-for-3 with five RBI and two runs, while Lemus went 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBI. Stevens went 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Junior Raina Gorman (Ardsley, N.Y./Florida Southwestern State College) earned the win pitching three innings of relief.
Clarion was led by Cassidy Runyan who went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Game 2: Mercy 9, East Stroudsburg 1
The Mavericks finished off the day by jumping on top of the Warriors with six runs in the top of the first to take a 6-0 lead. Lemus began the scoring with a two-run home run and Bullock and sophomore Jessica Lombardi (Cliffside Park, N.J./Cliffside Park) would also record RBI in the inning to give Mercy a comfortable lead.
Lemus hit another home run in the second inning, her third of the day, to give the Mavericks a 7-0 lead. Mercy would tack on additional runs in the fourth inning and sixth inning and would hold the Warriors off the board until the fifth inning to secure the win in six innings.
Lemus batted 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI and junior Mackenzie Dunlop (Surrey, British Columbia/West Virginia State University) went 2-for-3 with two runs. Stevens made the start in the circle and went the first four innings with five strikeouts and no runs allowed to pick up the win.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they face Chowan at 11 a.m. and Queens at 3 p.m. at Francis Marion University.
