SPARKILL, N.Y. (Apr. 25, 2019) – Powered by a shutout in game one from senior Raina Gorman (Ardsley, N.Y./Florida Southwestern State College) and a home run and three RBI on the day from freshman Ylannah Bowman (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral), the Mercy College softball team earned 8-0 and 7-4 victories over ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Thursday afternoon at Spartan Field.

The Mavericks (23-25, 9-13 ECC) snap a two-game losing streak and sit in the fourth and final ECC Tournament spot with just two games left, while the Spartans (22-17, 12-8 ECC) drop the season series to Mercy.

Game 1: Mercy 8, St. Thomas Aquinas 0

Mercy struck first in the top of the first with three runs to take a 3-0 lead. Senior Mikayla Newham (Redding, Calif./Yavapai College) walked and advanced to second following a groundout. Freshman Jordan DiGiacinto (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) reached on an error to put runners on first and third. Newham later scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0 and Bowman hit a two-run home run which made it 3-0.

The Mavericks tacked on two more runs in the third inning when sophomore Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) singled and later scored on a DiGiacinto RBI single to increase the lead to 4-0. Senior Kaylee Stevens (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal) brought home the second run of the inning on a double to left field which gave Mercy a 5-0 lead.

Mercy put together three more runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-0 lead. Sophomore Casey Akers (Keller, Texas/Timber Creek) and Newham singled after senior Emma Gilaga (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial) walked to load the bases. Mueller then delivered a three-run triple to right field which gave the Mavericks a commanding 8-0 lead.

The eight runs would be more than enough for Gorman who allowed just three hits and struck out six to earn her eighth win of the year.

Mueller went 2-for-3 with three RBI and Bowman went 2-for-2 with two RBI. Stevens and DiGiacinto both went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The Spartans were led by Amanda Leone who went 2-for-2. Colleen Borum pitched 4.0 innings to take the loss.

Game 2: Mercy 7, St. Thomas Aquinas 4

Mercy took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on four hits and a Spartan error. Newham led off the game with a triple and later scored on an error by the catcher. Stevens later brought home Mueller with an RBI single to center field to make it 2-0.

St. Thomas Aquinas scored three runs in the third and one in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Mercy took the lead for good in the sixth inning with four runs, building a 6-4 lead. Freshman Katelyn Shephard (Beaumont, Calif./Beaumont) brought home the first run of the inning on an RBI single to center field. Newham then plated Gilaga with a double to right field which tied the game up at 4-4. Mueller gave the Mavericks the lead with an RBI single before Newham scored the final run of the inning on a steal of home.

Mercy increased the lead to 7-4 in the seventh inning when Bowman recorded an RBI single to give the Mavericks an insurance run.

Stevens worked around a walk in the bottom of the seventh to give Mercy the sweep.

Newham and Mueller both went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Stevens went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bowman went 1-for-4 with an RBI and Stevens pitched a complete game with two earned runs allowed to pick up the win.

St. Thomas Aquinas was led by Briana Keaveney who went 3-for-3 with an RBI and pitched 2.1 innings to take the loss.

Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, April 27th when they host NYIT for Senior Day at 1 p.m.