LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Apr. 14, 2019) – Despite a game-high-tying three RBI from junior Erica Handegard (Reno, Nev./Earl Wooster) in game one, the Mercy College softball team dropped 9-8 and 7-1 decisions to No. 18 Georgian Court University on Sunday afternoon at SEI Investments Field.
The Mavericks (20-20) see their two-game winning streak come to an end, while the Lions (36-5) have won 19 games in a row.
Game 1: Georgian Court 9, Mercy 8
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on two hits and a Lion error. Freshman Alexis Crawford (Hemet, Calif./West Valley High) singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. After a strikeout, Handegard recorded an RBI single through the left side which scored Crawford to make it 1-0.
Georgian Court answered with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. Mercy tied the game up at 2-2 in the second inning when freshman Jessica Brandt (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) homered to left field.
The Mavericks took the lead back in the top of the third when Handegard recorded a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Crawford to make it 3-2. Mercy added on another run in the top of the fourth to make it 4-2 when Brandt singled and later came around to score on an error by the third baseman.
Mercy increased the lead to 6-2 with two more runs in the fifth inning. Handegard produced another sacrifice fly and junior Erika Byrne (San Diego, Calif./San Diego Mesa College) brought home the second run on a single through the right side that scored senior Marisa Miano (Las Vegas, Nev./Colorado Mesa University).
The Mavericks built the lead to 8-2 in the top of the sixth when senior Kaylee Stevens (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal) delivered a two-run single through the left side that scored both Crawford and sophomore Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista).
The hosts battled back with five runs in the sixth inning to make it 8-7 and scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn a 9-8 walk-off win.
Handegard went 1-for-1 with three RBI and Mueller went 3-for-4. Crawford went 2-for-5 with three runs and Brandt went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Byrne went 1-for-4 with an RBI and Stevens went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Stevens went 6.0 innings with seven earned runs allowed and ten strikeouts to take the loss.
Georgian Court was led by Paige Eckert who went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Mikayla Gilgert pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win.
Game 2: Georgian Court 7, Mercy 1
Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on three hits. Senior Mikayla Newham (Redding, Calif./Yavapai College) led off the game with a single and moved to second following a Casey Akers (Keller, Texas/Timber Creek) single. Following an out, Stevens singled to left center to score Newham and give Mercy a 1-0 lead.
It remained 1-0 until the bottom of the second when Georgian Court scored a run to tie the game up at 1-1. The Lions took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Samantha Salomon homered to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.
Georgian Court tacked on five more runs in the sixth inning to make it 7-1 and Mercy could only record three hits after the first inning to give the Lions the sweep.
Stevens went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Newham, Mueller and Akers all went 1-for-3. Freshman Katelyn Shephard (Beaumont, Calif./Beaumont) pitched a complete game with four earned runs allowed to take the loss.
Georgian Court was led by Salomon who went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Gilgert tossed a complete game to earn the win in game two.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, April 16th when they play at Queens at 2:30 p.m.
