DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 2, 2021) – Powered by a team-high six hits and a team-high-tying two RBI on the day from junior Alexis Crawford (Hemet, Calif./West Valley High), the Mercy College softball team earned 8-0 and 4-3 victories over ECC foe D'Youville College on Friday afternoon at Smith Field.

The Mavericks (4-2, 4-0 ECC) have won four games in a row and start 4-0 in ECC play for the first time in program history. The Saints (7-5, 2-4 ECC) fall below .500 in ECC play on the year.

Game 1: Mercy 8, D'Youville 0 (5 Innings)

Sophomore Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) set the Saints down in order to open the day in the top of the first and the Mavericks offense went to work in the bottom of the inning. Crawford led off the inning with a single and stole second. Senior Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) then singled to put runners on first and third. Mueller then stole second and Crawford stole home to put the Mavericks up 1-0. Mueller scored the second run of the game following an attempted double steal where senior Danielle Burgos (Calexico, Calif./Arizona Western College) was thrown out at second.

It remained 2-0 until the bottom of the second when the Mavericks plated three more runs to take a 5-0 lead. Senior Casey Akers (Keller, Texas/Timber Creek) led off the inning with a single and stole second. Junior Ariana Ricci (Sacramento, Calif./Cosumnes Oaks) walked to put runners on first and second. After a groundout, Crawford singled to left field to load the bases. Mueller then stepped up and delivered a two-run double to right center that scored Ricci and Akers to make it 4-0. Mueller later scored following an error by the D'Youville shortstop to make it 5-0 after two innings of play.

Mercy tacked on another run in the bottom of the third to take a 6-0 lead. Sophomore Sydney Johnston (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) led off the inning with a hit by pitch and later scored on a Crawford RBI single to left center.

The score remained 6-0 until the bottom of the fifth, as Benson continued to shut down the Saints, when the Mavericks plated two more runs to win via the run-rule. Junior Ylannah Bowman (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Crawford RBI single down the right field line. Sophomore Hailey Puglia (Holtsville, N.Y./Assumption College) then scored the final run of the game on a steal of home to give the Mavericks the walk-off win.

Crawford went 4-for-4 with two RBI and Mueller went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs. Bowman went 2-for-3 with a run and Akers and Johnston went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Burgos went 1-for-2 and Benson pitched a complete game shutout with eight strikeouts and just two hits allowed to earn the win.

D'Youville was led by Maddy Pepke who went 2-for-3. Alexa Haberer went 2.2 innings with five earned runs allowed to take the loss.

Game 2: Mercy 4, D'Youville 3

A pitcher's duel broke out early on in game two between Mercy starter Jessica Becchetti (Eastchester, N.Y./Ramapo College) and D'Youville starter Brittaney Goodrich with their being no score heading into the top of the fourth. The Saints plated a run in the top of the fourth on a Goodrich RBI single to make it 1-0.

The Saints added on two more runs in the top of the fifth to build a 3-0 lead. Mercy answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-1. Senior Alyssa Guzman (Riverside, Calif./Mount San Antonio College) singled and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt and a Crawford single. Guzman scored the Mavericks first run on a double steal attempt with Crawford getting thrown out trying to steal second. Guzman crossed the plate before Crawford was thrown out for the final out of the inning, making it 3-1.

The Mavericks needed late game heroics and they would get it in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs to take a 4-3 lead. Burgos singled and freshman Alexandra Karavias (Westbury, N.Y./WT Clarke) walked to put runners on first and second. A groundout moved the runners to second and third before sophomore Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra) singled down the right field line, scoring Karavias and Burgos to tie the game up at 3-3. Akers then singled to put runners on first and second with two outs. Guzman then delivered a clutch RBI single to right field that scored Franck to give the Mavericks a 4-3 lead. Akers was thrown out at home on the play trying to give Mercy an insurance run.

Junior Catherine Zucker (North Babylon, N.Y./St. Joseph's College (LI)) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning with two strikeouts to give the Mavericks the come-from-behind victory.

Crawford went 2-for-3 and Mueller went 2-for-3. Franck went 1-for-2 with two RBI and Guzman went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Burgos and Akers both went 1-for-3. Becchetti went 4.1 innings with two earned runs allowed and seven strikeouts to earn the no-decision. Zucker pitched the final 2.2 innings with no hits allowed and five strikeouts to earn the win.

The Saints were led by Pepke who went 2-for-4. Goodrich went the distance with four runs allowed to take the loss.

Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, April 8th when they play at Felician at 12 p.m.