BOWIE, Md. (Mar. 2, 2020) – Powered by a team-high-tying five RBI on the day from junior Danielle Burgos (Calexico, Calif./Arizona Western College), the Mercy College softball team earned 10-5 and 22-5 victories over Bowie State University on Sunday afternoon.

The Mavericks (5-5) snap a four-game losing streak with the sweep, while the Bulldogs (1-12) have dropped eight games in a row.

The 22 runs scored in game two are the most scored by the Mavericks since they scored 24 runs against Manhattan on April 6, 1988.

Game 1: Mercy 10, Bowie State 5

After a scoreless first inning, Mercy took a 4-0 lead in the top of the second on two Bowie State errors. Junior Casey Akers (Keller, Texas/Timber Creek) drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run of the inning. Sophomore Alexis Crawford (Hemet, Calif./West Valley High) later reached on an error to make it 2-0 and junior Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) drew another bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0. Sophomore Jessica Brandt (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) brought in the final run of the inning on a bases-loaded walk to give Mercy a 4-0 lead.

The Mavericks scored three more runs in the top of the third to take a 7-0 lead. Burgos recorded a two-run triple and later scored on a passed ball to make it 7-0.

Mercy made it 8-0 in the top of the fourth when senior Erika Byrne (San Diego, Calif./San Diego Mesa College) doubled to lead off the inning and stole home later in the inning.

Bowie State scored four runs in the fifth inning to make it 8-4 after five innings of play.

Mercy scored two more runs in the top of the sixth when freshman Leilany Rodriguez (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) hit a two-run single to the pitcher to put the Mavericks up 10-4.

The Bulldogs scored a run in the sixth to make it 10-5 but the Mavericks held on for the win.

Mueller went 2-for-2 with an RBI and Burgos went 1-for-2 with two RBI. Brandt went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Byrne went 2-for-4. Rodriguez went 1-for-2 with two RBI and sophomore Catherine Zucker (North Babylon, N.Y./St. Joseph's College (L.I.) pitched 4.0 innings with three runs allowed to pick up the win.

Game 2: Mercy 22, Bowie State 5

Mercy opened the scoring with four runs in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Freshman Hailey Puglia (Holtsville, N.Y./Assumption College) brought home the first three runs to make it 3-0 and Mueller singled home Puglia for the final run of the inning.

The Mavericks scored two more runs in the third inning when Byrne reached on an error and freshman Sydney Johnston (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) followed with an inside-the-park home run to make it 6-0. Bowie State got a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 6-1.

Mercy tacked on seven runs in the fourth inning to make it 13-1. Brandt hit a two-run double to left field to start the scoring and later scored on a passed ball. Johnston stole home to make it 10-1. Senior Erica Handegard (Reno, Nev./Earl Wooster) recorded an RBI single to right field and Puglia singled home another run to make it 12-1. Mueller drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the final run of the inning.

Mercy plated nine runs in the top of the fifth to build a 22-1 lead. Handegard brought home the first run of the inning on an error by the shortstop and Burgos followed with a two-run double to make it 16-1. Puglia later singled in a run to make it 17-1 and Byrne drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 19-1. Mueller later scored on a passed ball to give Mercy a 20-1 lead and Handegard and Burgos concluded the scoring with RBI singles to make it 22-1.

Bowie State scored four runs in the fifth inning but it was not enough.

Puglia went 2-for-5 with five RBI, Mueller went 1-for-4 with two RBI and Brandt went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Byrne went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Johnston went 1-for-1 with two RBI. Handegard went 2-for-3 with three RBI and Burgos went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Freshman Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) pitched 5.0 innings with five runs allowed to earn the win.

Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, March 14th when they play at Adelphi at 12 p.m.