MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. (Feb. 29, 2019) – Despite a two-run home run from sophomore Jessica Brandt (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) in game two, the Mercy College softball team dropped 10-1 and 7-3 decisions to University of Mount Olive on Saturday afternoon.

The Mavericks (3-5) have dropped four games in a row, while the Trojans (16-2) have won 16 games in a row.

Game 1: Mount Olive 10, Mercy 1

Mount Olive scored a run in the first, three runs in the second and six runs in the third inning to take a 10-0 lead after three innings.

Mercy scored a run in the top of the fourth to make it 10-1. Freshman Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra) reached on an error and advanced to second after an Ylannah Bowman (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) single. Freshman Nicole Smart (Santa Clarita, Calif./Golden Valley) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Franck later scored in the inning following an Erica Handegard (Reno, Nev./Earl Wooster) single but Smart was thrown out at second to end the inning.

Mount Olive held the Mavericks scoreless in the top of the fifth to earn the victory.

Handegard and Bowman both went 1-for-2 and freshman Hailey Puglia (Holtsville, N.Y./Assumption College) went 1-for-3. Sophomore Sabrina Gonzalez (Royal Palm Beach, Fla./Wellington) allowed seven earned runs to take the loss.

Game 2: Mount Olive 7, Mercy 3

Mount Olive took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on one hit and one Mercy error. The Trojans added a run in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. Mercy answered in the third inning with two runs when junior Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) singled and scored after a Brandt home run to make it 3-2.

The Trojans scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-2 lead.

Mercy got a run back in the top of the sixth when Mueller singled home junior Danielle Burgos (Calexico, Calif./Arizona Western College) to make it 6-3. However, the Mavericks could not score again giving Mount Olive the win.

Brandt went 1-for-4 with two RBI and Mueller went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Freshman Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) went 6.0 innings with seven runs allowed to take the loss.

Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play at Bowie State for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.