DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 24, 2021) – Despite seven shutout innings pitched by junior Katelyn Shephard (Beaumont, Calif./Beaumont) in game two, the Mercy College softball team dropped 3-0 and 4-1 decisions to ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday afternoon at Smith Field.
The Mavericks (13-8, 12-5 ECC) see their five-game winning streak come to an end and suffer their first losses at home this season. The Spartans (20-4, 14-2 ECC) remain in first place in the ECC standings.
Game 1: St. Thomas Aquinas 3, Mercy 0
After a scoreless first inning, the Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a Sarah Williams home run.
It remained 2-0 until the top of the third when Amanda Castro recorded an RBI double to make it 3-0.
Mercy loaded the bases in the fourth inning following singles from junior Alexis Crawford (Hemet, Calif./West Valley High), senior Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) and sophomore Sydney Johnston (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial). However, a strikeout and groundout ended the inning.
Crawford and Mueller singled in the sixth and advanced to second and third following a groundout. A pair of fly outs would end the inning without a run scoring.
Sophomore Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra) led off the seventh inning with a single but was left stranded and the Spartans earned the 3-0 victory in game one.
Crawford and Mueller both went 2-for-3 and Johnston and Franck went 1-for-3. Freshman Mia Harris (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) went 1-for-2 and sophomore Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) pitched a complete game with six strikeouts to take the loss.
STAC was led by Williams who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Carissa Della Vecchia went the distance to earn the win.
Game 2: St. Thomas Aquinas 4, Mercy 1
The Spartans scored all four of their runs in the first inning on four hits and one Mercy error to take a 4-0 lead.
It remained 4-0 until the bottom of the third when Mercy plated a run to make it 4-1. Senior Casey Akers (Keller, Texas/Timber Creek) walked and stole second. She would later score on a Mueller double.
Shephard allowed just three hits in her seven innings, but the Mavericks could only muster seven hits and one run.
Mueller went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Franck and Shephard both went 2-for-3. Senior Danielle Burgos (Calexico, Calif./Arizona Western College) went 1-for-3 and senior Jessica Becchetti (Eastchester, N.Y./Ramapo College) allowed four runs without recording an out take the loss.
STAC was led by Amanda Schweitzer who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Paige Toothaker pitched a complete game to earn the win.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they host Bridgeport at 12 p.m. The two teams will conclude their suspended game from Thursday starting at 12 pm with the scheduled doubleheader taking place after.
