DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 16, 2022) – Powered by a team-high five hits and four RBI on the day from junior Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra), the Mercy College softball team dropped an 18-5 decision in game one before earning a 3-1 win over ECC foe Molloy College on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at Smith Field.

In a ceremony prior to the game, seniors Alexis Crawford, Ylannah Bowman, Ariana Ricci, Sabrina Gonzalez and Danielle Burgos were recognized.

The Mavericks (8-29, 6-8 ECC) earn their sixth straight doubleheader split, while the Lions (16-21, 8-6 ECC) earn a split of the season series.

Game 1: Molloy 18, Mercy 5 (6 Innings)

Molloy took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Mercy evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning. Franck singled and later scored on a Sydney Johnston RBI double.

The Lions took a 6-1 lead in the top of the second on five hits. Amanda King recorded a grand slam that plated four of the runs. Mercy struck back with four runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 6-5. Senior Ylannah Bowman singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Shannon Sisco RBI single to make it 6-2. Franck then delivered a three-run double to cut Molloy's lead to 6-5.

Molloy scored three runs in the third and nine runs in the sixth to take an 18-5 lead. Mercy could not score in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Lions the win via the run-rule.

Franck went 3-for-3 with three RBI and Johnston went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sisco went 1-for-4 with an RBI and Crawford went 2-for-4. Junior Hailey Puglia went 1-for-3 and Bowman went 1-for-3. Junior Nicole Smart went 2-for-3 with a run. Senior Sabrina Gonzalez pitched 2.1 innings with nine runs allowed to take the loss. Junior Angelina Oquendo pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Molloy was led by King who went 3-for-5 with seven RBI. King also pitched four scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.

Mercy had 12 hits and three errors and Molloy had 17 hits and two errors.

Game 2: Mercy 3, Molloy 1

Mercy jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Crawford singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Johnston RBI single.

The Mavericks tacked on two more runs in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. Freshman Maddie Lula blasted a home run to right center to make it 2-0 and Franck recorded an RBI double that scored freshman Victoria Seppala, who singled earlier in the inning, to make it 3-0.

The three runs were more than enough for junior starter Alexi Benson who pitched another complete game with just an unearned run allowed in the sixth to give Mercy the win.

Franck went 2-for-2 with an RBI and Crawford went 2-for-4 with a run. Johnston went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Lula went 1-for-3 with a home run. Seppala went 2-for-3 and senior Ariana Ricci and Smart both went 1-for-3. Benson allowed just four hits and struck out six to earn her seventh win of the season.

Molloy was led by Karsyn Eaton who went 1-for-3 with an RBI. King pitched a complete game to take the loss.

Mercy had 10 hits and no errors and Molloy had four hits and two errors.

Interim Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, April 19th when they host STAC at 2:30 p.m.