LYNDHURST, N.J. (Apr. 8, 2021) –Powered by three Mavericks recording three RBI in game one, the Mercy College softball team earned a 15-5 victory in game one before falling 8-7 in game two to Felician University on Thursday afternoon.
The Mavericks (5-3) see their five-game winning streak come to an end with the game two loss, while the Golden Falcons (6-14) snap a three-game losing streak with the game two win.
Game 1: Mercy 15, Felician 5 (5 Innings)
Mercy struck first in the top of the first when they scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Senior Danielle Burgos (Calexico, Calif./Arizona Western College) doubled and sophomore Sydney Johnston (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) reached on an error to put runners on first and third. Burgos then scored on a double steal with Johnston to give Mercy a 1-0 lead. Johnston scored the second run of the inning on an attempted double steal with Johnston scoring before junior Ylannah Bowman (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) was thrown out at second to end the inning.
Felician answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Mercy was held scoreless in the second inning before exploding for five runs in the third to take a 7-5 lead. Senior Hannah Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) singled and later scored on a throwing error by the right fielder. Burgos reached on an error and Johnston walked to put runners on first and second. After an infield fly to second, senior Casey Akers (Keller, Texas/Timber Creek) hit a two-run double to center field that allowed Burgos and Johnston to score, tying the game at 5-5. Senior Alyssa Guzman (Riverside, Calif./Mount San Antonio College) then singled home Akers to give the Mavericks a 6-5 lead. Guzman scored the final run of the inning on a steal of home.
The Mavericks added a run in the fourth inning to take an 8-5 lead. Junior Alexis Crawford (Hemet, Calif./West Valley High) tripled and later scored on a passed ball.
Mercy put the game away in the top of the fifth with seven runs on seven hits to build a 15-5 lead. Bowman led off the inning with a double and scored when Akers doubled to make it 9-5. Guzman then followed with a two-run home run to left center which made it 11-5. Later in the inning, Johnston recorded a three-run double that gave the Mavericks a 14-5 lead. Bowman brought home Johnston for the final run of the inning, making it 15-5.
Junior Catherine Zucker (North Babylon, N.Y./St. Joseph's College (LI)) pitched a scoreless fifth inning for the Mavericks, giving Mercy the win via the run-rule.
Guzman went 2-for-3 with three RBI, a home run and two runs and Akers went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs. Johnston went 1-for-3 with three runs and three RBI and Bowman went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Crawford went 2-for-4 with two runs and sophomore Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) pitched four innings with five runs allowed and six strikeouts to earn the win. Zucker pitched a scoreless fifth inning with one strikeout.
Felician was led by Vienna Chierchia who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Martarina Crumb pitched 4.2 innings with seven earned runs allowed to take the loss.
Game 2: Felician 8, Mercy 7
After a scoreless first inning for the Mavericks, Felician scored a run in the bottom of the first on a home run to take a 1-0 lead.
It remained 1-0 until the bottom of the second when Felician added on another run on three hits to build a 2-0 lead.
Mercy answered with three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-2 lead. Crawford led off the inning with a single and scored on a Mueller RBI single up the middle. Akers brought home the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game at 2-2. Guzman singled down the left field line to score Burgos, giving the Mavericks a 3-2 lead.
The Mavericks remained in the lead until the bottom of the fourth when Felician tied the game up at 3-3 without recording a hit.
Mercy took the lead right back in the top of the fifth with two runs, making it 5-3. Guzman brought in the first run of the inning on an RBI double to right center making it 4-3. Guzman later scored on a throwing error by the catcher to give the Mavericks a 5-3 lead.
Felician came back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-5 lead.
A home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth gave the Golden Falcons an 8-5 lead.
Bowman led off the seventh with a home run to get the Mavericks within 8-6. Guzman later singled and freshman Mia Harris (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) pinch ran for her. Harris would score on a Hailey Puglia (Holtsville, N.Y./Assumption College) double which made it 8-7. A groundout to second ended the game with the tying run at second.
Guzman went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Bowman went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Mueller went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored and Puglia went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Burgos went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Smart went 1-for-3. Junior Sabrina Gonzalez (Royal Palm Beach, Fla./Wellington) pitched the first five innings with seven earned runs allowed to take the loss. Zucker pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Felician was led by Alexis Velotta who went 2-for-2 with two RBI. Alexis DeLaCruz pitched the final four innings to earn the win.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, April 10th when they play at Staten Island at 1 p.m.
