NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 17, 2023) – Despite three different Mavericks recording an RBI, the Mercy College softball team opened its 2023 season with 3-0 and 6-4 losses to Alderson Broaddus University on Friday afternoon.
The Mavericks (0-2) open their season with back-to-back losses, while the Battlers (2-0) open their season with two straight wins.
Game 1: Alderson Broaddus 3, Mercy 0
Mercy senior starter Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) and Alderson Broaddus starter Amber Corley combined to pitch three scoreless innings before the Battlers scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-0.
Corley held the Mavericks hitless until senior Nicole Smart (Santa Clarita, Calif./Golden Valley) singled in the top of the seventh. However, a flyout and strikeout ended the threat and game.
Smart went 1-for-3 and Benson pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and five hits allowed to take the loss.
Alderson Broaddus was led by Cleo McMahan who went 1-for-3. Amber Corley struck out 12 batters in seven innings to earn the win.
Mercy had one hit and one error and Alderson Broaddus had five hits and no errors.
Game 2: Alderson Broaddus 6, Mercy 4
Mercy opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when junior Shannon Sisco (Cicero, N.Y./Mansfield University) singled and later scored on a Smart fielder's choice to make it 1-0. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fifth when the Battlers scored a run on two hits to tie the game at 1-1.
The Mavericks retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth when senior Hailey Puglia (Holtsville, N.Y./Assumption University) doubled and later scored on a Sisco double to make it 2-1. Mercy tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when senior Sydney Johnston (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) recorded a two-run double to give the Mavericks a 4-1 lead after six innings.
Alderson Broaddus scored five runs in the top of the seventh on four hits to take a 6-4 lead. Sophomore Victoria Seppala (Abington, Mass./Abington) recorded a single but was left stranded at first and the Battlers came away with the sweep.
Sisco went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Johnston went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Seppala and junior Alexandra Karavias (Westbury, N.Y./WT Clarke) went 1-for-1 and Puglia went 1-for-3. Senior Angelina Oquendo (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) pitched six innings with one run allowed and four strikeouts to earn a no decision. Freshman Mackayla Secoda (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) allowed five runs in one inning to take the loss in her collegiate debut.
Alderson Broaddus was led by Bri Sersevic who went 3-for-3.
Mercy had six hits and no errors and Alderson Broaddus had 10 hits and one error.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they face Bentley for a doubleheader in North Myrtle Beach starting at 10 a.m.
