DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 6, 2024) – The Mercy University softball team opens its 2024 season on Thursday, March 7th when they face Franklin Pierce and Ferris State in Melbourne, Florida starting at 12:15 p.m. Mercy will then play Cedarville and Davenport on Friday, March 8th starting at 12:15 p.m. before facing Ferris State and Ursuline on Saturday, March 9th starting at 10 a.m. The Mavericks conclude the trip against Franklin Pierce and Illinois-Springfield on Sunday, March 10th starting at 10 a.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Thursday, March 7th 12:15 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-0), Franklin Pierce (2-0), Ferris State (7-10)
Location: Melbourne, Fla.
Date/Time: Friday, March 8th 12:15 p.m. & 4:45 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-0), Cedarville (2-11), Davenport (5-11)
Location: Melbourne, Fla.
Date/Time: Saturday, March 9th 10 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-0), Ferris State (7-10), Ursuline (1-3)
Location: Melbourne, Fla.
Date/Time: Sunday, March 10th 10 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (0-0), Franklin Pierce (2-0), Illinois-Springfield (9-7)
Location: Melbourne, Fla.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy enters the 2024 season picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 15-31 overall and 10-10 in ECC play last season, qualifying for the ECC Tournament for the third straight season. The Mavericks earned the No. 3 seed in the ECC Tournament last season and look to qualify for the ECC Tournament for the fourth straight season under Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo.
Leading the returners for the Mavericks is graduate student Samantha Franck who was named First Team All-ECC last season after hitting .289 with 27 RBI, six home runs and 35 hits. Franck was named to the ECC Honor Roll three times last season and led the team in home runs and was fifth in the ECC in RBI. Senior Shannon Sisco also returns after being tabbed First Team All-ECC a year ago. Sisco ended the 2023 season hitting .373 with 60 hits, 39 runs, eight RBI and 20 stolen bases. She ranked second in the ECC in stolen bases and batting average last season and led the team in runs, hits, and doubles. Junior Victoria Seppala earned First Team All-ECC honors in 2023 and hit .328 with 15 RBI, two home runs, four triples, 42 hits and 28 runs scored. Seppala led the team in triples and was third in runs scored.
Graduate student Nicole Smart also returns after hitting .258 with 18 RBI, 32 hits, five doubles and 10 runs scored in 2023. Senior Mia Harris had four RBI, seven runs scored and five stolen bases last season and returns and sophomore Elizabeth Stark had two home runs, eight RBI and nine runs scored in her rookie campaign. Senior Alexandra Karavias, junior Maddie Lula and sophomore Daedra VanLuvanee return after combining for nine RBI, one home run, 11 hits and six runs scored last season. Sophomore Delaney Baker returns after sitting out last season. Baker hit .561 during her junior year of high school at South Hunterdon Regional and had the most RBI and home runs on the team.
Returning in the circle is graduate student Alexi Benson who was named Second Team All-ECC in 2022 and won six games last season with a team-best 3.73 ERA in 23 games with a team-high 99 strikeouts. Benson was named to the ECC Honor Roll once last season and had 16 complete games and tied for the team in wins in 135 innings pitched. She led the team in strikeouts and innings pitched and set a school record for career strikeouts. Sophomore Marina Provencio also returns after winning a team-high-tying six games last season. She appeared in 22 games making three starts with 30 strikeouts and one save in 52.1 innings pitched. Graduate student Angelina Oquendo made 16 starts in the circle last season and returns after recording one win, one save and 22 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched a year ago. Sophomore Mackayla Secoda returns after winning two games last season with 18 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitched. Secoda was named ECC Rookie of the Week once last season and made five starts in the circle.
Lorenzo welcomes a strong recruiting class led by freshmen Onnika DeBruhl, Allison Murphy, Julianna Coluccio, Ryleigh Melendez, Averi Miller, Dylan Reyer and Madison Haack. Murphy was named League Player of the Year, Third Team All-State, All-Section, All-County and All-League at North Rockland High School. Coluccio was tabbed First and Second Team All-Conference during her time at Timber Creek Regional High School and Melendez was named All-League three times and All-Section twice at Lakeland High School. Miller was a four-year varsity player at Arbor View High School in Nevada and hit .356 during her career with 53 hits and 39 RBI. Reyer was named a Newsday Top 100 softball player on Long Island for three straight years and was named All-County three times.
The Mavericks also welcome junior transfers Kimberlee Childs from University of Bridgeport and Zoe Rivera from Monroe College. Childs appeared in 15 games in two seasons at Bridgeport with seven runs scored and four stolen bases. Rivera played in 74 games in two seasons at Monroe with eight home runs, 45 RBI, 47 runs scored, 47 hits, seven doubles and four triples.
Mercy is looking to win their season opener for the first time since 2019.
Scouting the Ravens
Franklin Pierce is coming off 17-5 and 7-0 wins over Post on Monday. The Ravens were picked second in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 32-20 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. Franklin Pierce has been led by Anna Erikson who is hitting .625 with four RBI, five hits, four runs and two doubles. Ashley Cangiano has a team-high six RBI with a home run and three runs scored and Kierra Warrix has a team-high five runs scored with two RBI and five hits. The pitching staff is led by Sabrina Gonzalez who is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 7.0 innings with four strikeouts. Samantha Sylvester is 1-0 with a 5.25 ERA in 4.0 innings with four strikeouts.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Ferris State is coming off an 8-2 win over Walsh on Monday. The Bulldogs will play Cedarville three times before taking on Mercy on Thursday. Ferris State was picked fourth in the GLIAC Preseason Poll after going 23-33 last season, qualifying for the GLIAC Tournament. The Bulldogs are led by Alexis Kozlowski who is hitting a team-high .436 with a team-high 22 RBI, three home runs and 10 doubles. Catherine O'Donohue is hitting .377 with nine RBI, nine runs and two home runs and Jadyn Joseph is hitting .352 with a team-high 17 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. O'Donohue leads the pitching staff with a 2.36 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 26.2 innings pitched. Rylie Haist has a 10.00 ERA in 7.0 innings with one strikeout.
Scouting the Yellow Jackets
Cedarville is coming off 10-0 and 12-1 losses at Rollins on Monday. The Yellow Jackets will face Ferris State three times and Franklin Pierce once before taking on Mercy on Friday. Cedarville was picked tied for sixth in the G-MAC Preseason Poll after going 22-26 last season, qualifying for the G-MAC Tournament. The Yellow Jackets are led by Kaley Clark who is hitting a team-high .441 with a team-high 14 RBI and 15 hits with five runs and two home runs. Casey Bertke is second on the team with 11 RBI and has a team-high three home runs. Mariah Wallace has seven RBI and one home run. Bertke leads the pitching staff with a 5.63 ERA and 1-4 record with 18 strikeouts in 32.1 innings. Adaline Johnson is 1-5 with an 8.35 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.
Scouting the Panthers
Davenport is coming off a 2-0 loss at McKendree on Sunday. The Panthers will face Walsh twice on Thursday before taking on Mercy on Friday. Davenport was picked sixth in the GLIAC Preseason Poll after going 13-32 last season, qualifying for the GLIAC Tournament. The Panthers have been led by Savanna Disbrow who is hitting a team-high .340 with a team-high 16 RBI. Alexis Gills has nine RBI, a home run and a team-high 12 runs. Becca Daoust has three RBI, eight runs and a team-high five stolen bases. Cecelia Bell leads the pitching staff with a 2.73 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 41.0 innings. Hailey Whisman has a team-high three wins and has a 3.12 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 42.2 innings.
Scouting the Arrows
Ursuline is coming off 8-6 and 10-1 losses to Wheeling on February 26th. The Arrows were picked 14th in the G-MAC Preseason Poll after going 2-35 last season. Ursuline has been led by Jovanna Herrera who is hitting a team-high .600 with three RBI, nine hits and four runs. Spenser Mohr, Casey Barton, and Evelyn Vallejo all have a team-high four RBI. The pitching staff is led by Kathleen Wack who is 1-0 in the circle with a 3.11 ERA and five strikeouts in 9.0 innings. Barton has pitched a team-high 12.0 innings with five strikeouts and a 7.00 ERA.
Scouting the Prairie Stars
Illinois-Springfield is coming off 7-6 and 10-0 losses to Hillsdale on Saturday. The Prairie Stars will face Ferris State twice, Cedarville, Walsh and Nova Southeastern before taking on Mercy. UIS was picked sixth in the GLVC Preseason Poll after going 34-24 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. The Prairie Stars are led by Ramsey Armstrong and Isabella Wilson who both have a team-high 15 RBI. Malia Bender is hitting .435 with a team-high 19 runs to go with 12 RBI and two home runs. Alexis Carroll is 4-2 in the circle with a 2.80 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 35.0 innings. Rosie Bartletti is 3-1 with a 3.94 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 21.1 innings and Taylor Zawacki is 2-3 with a 4.24 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 33.0 innings.
Next Game
Mercy plays at Georgian Court for a doubleheader on Sunday, March 17th at 12 p.m.
