FLUSHING, N.Y. (Mar. 21, 2024) – Despite the first collegiate home run from freshman Julianna Coluccio (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional) in game two, the Mercy University softball team dropped 7-5 and 13-5 decisions to ECC foe Queens College on Thursday afternoon.

The Mavericks (2-12, 0-2 ECC) have dropped eight games in a row and are swept by the Knights (7-6, 2-0 ECC) for the first time since 2019.

Game 1: Queens 7, Mercy 5

Queens scored three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead. The Mavericks answered with two runs in the top of the second to make it 3-2. Graduate student Nicole Smart (Santa Clarita, Calif./Golden Valley) led off the inning with a double and later scored on a sophomore Delaney Baker (Lambertville, N.J./South Hunterdon Regional) RBI single to make it 3-1. Senior Mia Harris (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) then singled to load the bases before senior Shannon Sisco (Cicero, N.Y./Mansfield University) recorded an RBI groundout to the pitcher, allowing graduate student Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra) to score, making it 3-2.

Mercy tied the score at 3-3 in the top of the third. Freshman Dylan Reyer (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) led off the inning with a double and later scored on a Coluccio RBI groundout to even the score at 3-3.

Queens scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-3 lead. The score remained 7-3 until the sixth inning when Mercy plated two runs to make it 7-5. Baker led off the inning with a hit by pitch and advanced to third after back-to-back singles from Sisco and freshman Allison Murphy (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland). Following a strikeout that made two outs in the inning, freshman Averi Miller (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View) hit a two-run single to right field, scoring Baker and Sisco to make it 7-5. A groundout to second ended the inning.

The Mavericks were unable to score in the seventh inning, giving Queens the 7-5 game one win.

Mercy was led by Miller who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and by Baker who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sisco and Coluccio both went 1-for-4 with an RBI and Murphy, Reyer and Franck all went 1-for-4. Harris went 1-for-3 and Smart went 1-for-2. Graduate student Angelina Oquendo (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) allowed three earned runs in four innings to take the loss. Sophomore Mackayla Secoda (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

Queens was led by Caylea Campbell who went 3-for-3 with two RBI at the plate and pitched a complete game with 12 strikeouts to earn the win in the circle.

Mercy had 10 hits and one error and Queens had 10 hits and one error.

Game 2: Queens 13, Mercy 5

Mercy took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Sisco doubled and stole third before scoring on a Miller RBI single down the right field line to make it 1-0. Miller later scored on a freshman Onnika DeBruhl (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) RBI single down the left field line to give Mercy a 2-0 lead.

Queens scored eight runs in the bottom of the first, a run in the bottom of the second and four runs in the third inning to take a 13-2 lead.

Mercy got a run back in the fourth inning to make it 13-3. Harris led off the inning with a single and later scored on a Sisco RBI groundout to the shortstop.

The Mavericks scored their final two runs in the top of the fifth to make it 13-5. Smart led off the inning with a double and scored on Coluccio's first career home run to left field, making it 13-5. Mercy was unable to score again, and the Knights earned the 13-5 game two win via the run-rule.

Mercy was led by Coluccio who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and her first career home run and DeBruhl went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Miller went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Sisco went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Smart went 3-for-3 with a run and Harris went 1-for-2. Murphy went 1-for-3 and Baker went 1-for-1. Graduate student Alexi Benson (Spotsylvania, Va./Riverbend) allowed six earned runs in two innings to take the loss. Secoda pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Queens was led by Jenny Murphy who went 2-for-2 with three RBI. Arianna Fracchioni pitched a complete game to earn the win.

Mercy had 11 hits and two errors and Queens had nine hits and no errors.

Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, March 24th when they play at Bentley at 12 p.m.