DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 19, 2022) – Powered by a team-high two RBI on the day from senior Alexis Crawford (Hemet, Calif./West Valley High) and junior Sydney Johnston (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial), the Mercy College softball team earned a 4-2 win over ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College before falling 8-1 in the nightcap on Tuesday afternoon at Smith Field.
The Mavericks (9-30, 7-9 ECC) split their seventh straight ECC doubleheader, while the Spartans (20-16, 13-4 ECC) earn a split of the season series with the game two win.
Game 1: Mercy 4, STAC 2
The Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on two hits. The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Mercy scored four runs to take a 4-1 lead. Senior Ariana Ricci (Sacramento, Calif./Cosumnes Oaks) and freshman Maddie Lula (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) singled to lead off the inning. Freshman Victoria Seppala (Abington, Mass./Abington) then reached on an error by the first baseman, which allowed Ricci to score from second to tie the game at 1-1. Seppala then stole second before Crawford singled through the right side, scoring Seppala and Lula to give Mercy a 3-1 lead. Johnston plated the final run after reaching on an error by the shortstop to give the Mavericks a 4-1 lead.
The three run lead would be more than enough for junior starter Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) who went the distance once again to earn the win. She allowed a home run in the seventh, which cut the Mavericks lead to 4-2, but got out of the inning without allowing another run to give Mercy the game one win.
Crawford went 1-for-3 with two RBI and Lula went 2-for-3 with a run. Ricci went 1-for-3 with a run and junior Hailey Puglia (Holtsville, N.Y./Assumption University) went 1-for-3. Benson allowed just two runs and struck out five to earn her eighth win of the season.
STAC was led by Emilie Olivier who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Abbie Landrum allowed two earned runs to take the loss.
Mercy had five hits and one error and STAC had eight hits and six errors.
Game 2: STAC 8, Mercy 1
The Spartans took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on four hits. STAC added two runs in the second and a run in the third to make it 7-0.
Mercy got a run back in the bottom of the third to make it 7-1. Seppala singled and advanced to second after an error by the right fielder. Johnston later brought home Seppala on an RBI double to center field to get Mercy on the scoreboard.
STAC tacked on a run in the top of the fourth to make it 8-1.
The Mavericks were unable to score again, giving STAC the game two win.
Crawford went 2-for-4 and Puglia went 2-for-3. Johnston went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Lula and Seppala both went 1-for-3. Junior Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra) went 1-for-3 and sophomore Shannon Sisco (Cicero, N.Y./Mansfield University) went 1-for-3. Junior Angelina Oquendo (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) allowed six earned runs in six innings to take the loss.
STAC was led by Sarah Williams who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Carissa Della Vecchia allowed just one run to earn the win.
Mercy had nine hits and three errors and STAC had seven hits and one error.
Interim Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, April 21st when they host Queens at 2:30 p.m.
