CLERMONT, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2019) – Powered by a complete game in the circle from freshman Katelyn Shephard (Beaumont, Calif./Beaumont) and two RBI from senior Kaylee Stevens (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal) in game two, the Mercy College softball team dropped a 14-4 decision to No. 12 Saint Anselm College before earning a 5-1 win over Bentley University on Saturday afternoon.
The Mavericks (9-5) conclude their Florida trip 7-3, while the Hawks (11-6) snap a three-game losing streak and the Falcons (0-4) remain winless on the year.
Game 1: Saint Anselm 14, Mercy 4
Mercy scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) singled and later moved to third on a groundout by Yazzy Jameson (San Diego, Calif./Southwestern CC) and a single by Stevens. Stevens would steal second and Mueller stole home to put the Mavericks on the board.
Saint Anselm responded in the top of the second with five runs on four hits to take a 5-1 lead. Mercy got two runs back in the bottom of the second to make it 5-3. Junior Erica Handegard (Las Vegas, Nev./Earl Wooster) and freshman Ylannah Bowman (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) singled to lead off the inning and later came around to score on a two-run single from Mueller.
The Hawks tacked on three more runs in the top of the third to make it 8-3. Mercy scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Ariana Ricci (Sacramento, Calif./Cosumnes Oaks) reached on an error and was brought home on a double by Bowman.
The score remained 8-4 heading into the top of the seventh when Saint Anselm scored six runs to increase the lead to 14-4 and held on for the win.
Mueller went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Bowman went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Stevens pitched 3.0 innings with eight earned runs allowed to take the loss.
Saint Anselm was led by Jordan O'Connor who went 2-for-5 with three RBI. McKenna Smith pitched four shutout innings to earn the win.
Game 2: Mercy 5, Bentley 1
Bentley took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on two hits and a Mercy error. The Mavericks came back with two runs in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Freshman Jordan DiGiacinto (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) singled, sophomore Casey Akers (Keller, Texas/Timber Creek) walked and Bowman singled to load the bases. Ricci then singled to score DiGiacinto and senior Mikayla Newham (Redding, Calif./Yavapai College) later brought home Bowman with a single to make it 2-1.
It remained 2-1 until the top of the fifth when Mercy scored three more runs to take a 5-1 lead. Freshman Jessica Brandt (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) singled and junior Erika Byrne (San Diego, Calif./San Diego Mesa College) reached on an error. Stevens then stepped up and brought both home with a two-run double that made it 4-1. Stevens later scored on an Akers groundout to increase the lead to 5-1.
Shephard kept the Falcons off the board for six innings after surrendering the run in the first inning to secure the win.
Newham went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Stevens went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Ricci went 1-for-3 with an RBI and DiGiacinto went 2-for-4. Shephard went the distance with just one run allowed and seven strikeouts to pick up her fourth win of the year.
Bentley was led by Lindsey Allen who went 3-for-4 and Lauren Calabrese pitched a complete game to take the loss.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, March 17th when they play at Adelphi at 12 p.m.
