DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Mar. 23, 2022) – Despite a game-high three hits from junior Hailey Puglia (Holtsville, N.Y./Assumption University), the Mercy College softball team dropped a 4-3 decision to #25 Embry-Riddle University on Wednesday afternoon. Game two was canceled due to an injury to one of the umpires.
The Mavericks (2-19) have dropped 12 games in a row, while the Eagles (14-7) have won three games in a row.
Puglia went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and senior Alexis Crawford (Hemet, Calif./West Valley High) went 2-for-4 with a run. Sophomore Shannon Sisco (Cicero, N.Y./Mansfield University) went 1-for-3 with a run and seniors Ylannah Bowman (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) and Sabrina Gonzalez (Royal Palm Beach, Fla./Wellington) each had an RBI. Junior Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) pitched a complete game with four runs allowed to take the loss.
Embry-Riddle was led by Lauren Latoria who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Kelsi Collins pitched a complete game to earn the win.
Mercy jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on three hits. Crawford led off the game with a single and Sisco followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Junior Sydney Johnston (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) later walked to load the bases before Bowman was hit by a pitch to bring home Crawford for the first run. Puglia then singled to the pitcher, plating Sisco to make it 2-0.
It remained 2-0 until the third inning when the Eagles scored two runs on three hits to tie the game at 2-2. Mercy regained the lead in the top of the sixth with a run on two hits to take a 3-2 lead. Puglia led off the inning with a double and later scored on a Gonzalez sacrifice bunt.
Embry-Riddle took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with two runs on three hits. Latoria recorded an RBI single that brought home the tying run and Karina Ortiz-Munoz singled home the go-ahead run to give the hosts a 4-3 lead.
A pair of hit by pitches put runners on first and second for the Mavericks in the top of the seventh with one out. However, two strikeouts ended the threat and the game.
Mercy had six hits and one error and Embry-Riddle had eight hits and one error.
Head Coach Mike Fazio and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, March 27th when they play at D'Youville at 12 p.m.
