BUFFALO, N.Y. (Mar. 30, 2024) – Powered by a complete game in the circle from graduate student Alexi Benson (Spotsylvania, Va./Riverbend) and a game-high three RBI from graduate student Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra) in game one, the Mercy University softball team earned a 10-1 win over ECC foe D'Youville University before falling 5-4 in game two on Saturday afternoon.
The Mavericks (5-15, 1-5 ECC) earn their first ECC win of the season with the game one win, while the Saints (6-18, 1-5 ECC) win their first ECC game of the season in game two.
Game 1: Mercy 10, D'Youville 1 (6 Innings)
The Mavericks jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first. Freshman Allison Murphy (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) and senior Shannon Sisco (Cicero, N.Y./Mansfield University) both singled to lead off the game. Murphy later scored after freshman Averi Miller (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View) reached on a fielder's choice to make it 1-0. Franck later singled home Sisco making it 2-0 and Miller also scored after an error by the center fielder making it 3-0. Sophomore Delaney Baker (Lambertville, N.J./South Hunterdon Regional) then singled home freshman Julianna Coluccio (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional) to give Mercy a 4-0 lead and junior Maddie Lula (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) singled home Franck to increase the Mavericks lead to 5-0.
Mercy added two more runs in the third inning to make it 7-0. Franck led off the inning with a home run to make it 6-0 and freshman Dylan Reyer (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) later scored following a wild pitch after reaching on a single to give Mercy a 7-0 lead. The Saints scored an unearned run in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-1.
The Mavericks tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning to make it 10-1. Sisco singled to lead off the inning and stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch to make it 8-1. Franck later brought home Coluccio on a sacrifice fly to make it 9-1 and Coluccio later scored following a Baker single to give Mercy a 10-1 lead.
Benson held the Saints scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, giving Mercy the 10-1 game one win via the run-rule.
Mercy was led by Franck who went 2-for-3 with three RBI and by Sisco who went 3-for-4 with two runs. Baker went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Murphy went 1-for-3 with a run. Graduate student Nicole Smart (Santa Clarita, Calif./Golden Valley) went 1-for-4 and Coluccio went 1-for-3 with two runs. Lula went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Reyer went 1-for-1 with a run. Benson allowed no earned runs in six innings with nine strikeouts to earn her second win of the season.
D'Youville was led by Gianna Adamo who went 2-for-3. Kendal Lehnen allowed eight earned runs to take the loss.
Mercy had 13 hits and one error and D'Youville had three hits and two errors.
Game 2: D'Youville 5, Mercy 4
The Saints scored three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead.
Mercy scored a run in the top of the third to make it 3-1. Reyer singled to lead off the inning and stole second before scoring on a Miller RBI single. The Mavericks scored another run in the fourth inning to make it 3-2. Coluccio singled to lead off the inning and stole second before sophomore Daedra VanLuvanee (Walnutport, Pa./Northampton Area) singled, allowing Coluccio to score following an error by the right fielder.
The Mavericks tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth inning with a run. Sisco reached second following an error by the left fielder and Miller followed with a triple to right center, scoring Sisco to make it 3-3.
Franck gave the Mavericks a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning with her second home run of the day.
The Saints scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the 5-4 walk-off win. Lauren Booth doubled home the winning run with two outs in the inning.
Mercy was led by Miller who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and by Franck who went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Sisco went 2-for-4 with a run and Coluccio went 1-for-3 with a run. Reyer who went 2-for-3 with a run and VanLuvanee went 1-for-3. Sophomore Mackayla Secoda (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) allowed five runs in 6.2 innings to take the loss.
D'Youville was led by Mia Trietley who went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Sarah Parzych allowed two earned runs in seven innings to earn the win.
Mercy had nine hits and no errors and D'Youville had eight hits and three errors.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, April 3rd when they host Dominican at 2:30 p.m.
