DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 16, 2023) – The Mercy College softball team enters the 2023 season looking to qualify for the ECC Championship for the third straight season and win their first ECC Championship since 2017. The Mavericks open their 2023 season on Friday, February 17th when they face Alderson Broaddus University in North Myrtle Beach at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks return seven starters from last year's team and bring back three All-Conference selections from a year ago. Mercy returns four of their top five hitters from a year ago and bring back their top pitcher from last season. The Mavericks went 11-38 last season and qualified for the ECC Championship for the second straight season as a No. 4 seed.
Mercy was picked fourth in the ECC Preseason Poll and the Mavericks return seniors Alexi Benson and Samantha Franck and junior Shannon Sisco who were tabbed Second Team All-ECC last season.
"I am very excited to see this group compete this season. We have shown huge growth as individuals but most importantly as a team. With a new coaching staff, returning players and newcomers we learned to trust each other and trust the process. Coach Tayla, Addie, Chris and Sabrina have added such energy to this program. Their expertise has a huge impact on the players and myself as well. It's fun to learn from them. This offseason we worked hard and pushed each other to be the best we could be. We have a vision for this team to compete by pursuing their greatest potential on and off the field. We are excited to get started!" stated Lorenzo.
Infield
Leading the returners in the infield is Franck who hit .353 last season with a team-high 26 RBI, nine doubles and .526 slugging percentage. She was named ECC Player of the Week once last season and was second on the team in average after appearing in 41 games making 38 starts. She will look to start at first base for the Mavericks.
Sophomore Maddie Lula will see time at shortstop after being named to the ECC Honor Roll once last season. She appeared in 48 games making 45 starts and hit .269 with four home runs, 13 RBI, 14 runs, 32 hits and four doubles. She led the team in home runs in 2022. Senior Nicole Smart will look to see time at second base. The senior appeared in 44 games making 43 starts a year ago. She had 28 hits, 12 runs, five doubles and five RBI in 123 at bats last season.
Sophomore Victoria Seppala also returns after seeing action in the infield last season. She was named ECC Rookie of the Week once last season and appeared in 41 games making 37 starts with 21 hits, 10 runs, two RBI, two doubles and 10 stolen bases in 101 at bats.
Freshman Elizabeth Stark will compete for time at third base and junior Alexandra Karavias will see time at first base. She hit .250 with 15 hits, two home runs and seven RBI last season in 22 starts.
Senior Sydney Johnston returns behind the plate for the Mavericks. The senior was named First Team All-ECC in 2021 and was tabbed to the ECC Honor Roll once last season. She hit .265 with 31 hits, eight runs, eight doubles and 17 RBI in 41 starts last season. Also looking to see time behind the dish is sophomore Jessica Evans and freshmen Cayla Crawford and Daedra VanLuvanee. Crawford will also see action in the infield at shortstop. Johnston and Evans will also see time at third base.
Outfield
The outfield returners are led by Sisco who was named Second Team All-ECC last season. The one-time ECC Player of the Week and one-time Honor Roll recipient appeared in 41 games making 38 starts. She hit a team-high .359 with 47 hits, 12 RBI, 28 runs, five doubles, four triples and 17 stolen bases. The junior led the team in triples and runs and was second in hits and stolen bases.
Also returning in the outfield is senior Hailey Puglia who appeared in 41 games making 38 starts last season. She had 26 hits, five doubles, six RBI and 10 runs in 111 at bats. Junior Mia Harris will also see time in the outfield after making 11 starts a year ago.
Sophomore Bianca Mesadieu and freshman Mackayla Secoda will also compete for time in the outfield.
Pitchers
The pitching staff will be led by Benson who was tabbed Second Team All-ECC last season. The two-time ECC Pitcher of the Week last season appeared in 28 games in the circle with 25 starts. She went 9-18 with a 3.08 ERA, 20 complete games, one shutout and 138 strikeouts in 159 innings. The senior led the team in wins, ERA, complete games, strikeouts and innings pitched. She was third in the ECC in strikeouts.
Also returning in the circle is senior Angelina Oquendo who appeared in 41.1 innings last season with 19 strikeouts in 16 appearances. Karavias will also see action in the circle after tossing 17.1 innings last season in six starts.
Secoda and freshmen Marina Provencio and Abigail Quigley will compete for time in the circle.
