MELBOURNE, Fla. (Mar. 7, 2024) – Powered by an eight-inning complete game with one earned run allowed by graduate student Angelina Oquendo (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) and two hits and an RBI from freshman Averi Miller (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View) in game two, the Mercy University softball team opened their 2024 season with a 4-1 loss to Franklin Pierce University before earning a 3-2 win over Ferris State University in eight innings on Thursday afternoon.
The Mavericks (1-1) start 1-1 for the first time since 2020. The Ravens (3-0) remain unbeaten on the season, while the Bulldogs (10-11) have a four-game winning streak snapped.
Game 1: Franklin Pierce 4, Mercy 1
The Ravens scored a run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Mercy tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Shannon Sisco (Cicero, N.Y./Mansfield University) led off the inning with a single and later scored after freshman Allison Murphy (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland) reached on an error to tie the game at 1-1.
The score remained tied at 1-1 heading into the seventh inning when Franklin Pierce scored three runs on five hits to take a 4-1 lead. Mercy went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to give the Ravens the 4-1 win.
Mercy was led by Sisco who went 1-for-3 with a run scored and by freshman Dylan Reyer (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) who went 1-for-3 with her first collegiate hit. Graduate student Alexi Benson (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) allowed four runs in seven innings to take the loss.
Franklin Pierce was led by Bella Williams who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Samantha Sylvester tossed a complete game to earn the win.
Mercy had two hits and one error and Franklin Pierce had 10 hits and one error.
Game 2: Mercy 3, Ferris State 2
Ferris State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on an Emma Gillard home run. Mercy answered right back with two runs in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Senior Mia Harris (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice and stole third before scoring on an error by the second baseman to make it 1-1. Reyer then walked and stole second before Miller hit an RBI double that scored Reyer to make it 2-1.
The score remained 2-1 until the seventh inning when the Bulldogs scored a run while down to their final out to tie the game at 2-2.
Mercy took the lead for good in the eighth inning. Sisco singled to move Harris to third before a double play made two outs in the inning. Reyer then reached on an error by the second baseman, scoring Harris from third to give Mercy the 3-2 lead.
Oquendo held Ferris State scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, giving Mercy the 3-2 win.
Miller went 2-for-4 with an RBI and her first two collegiate hits. Graduate student Samantha Franck (La Habra Heights, Calif./La Habra) went 1-for-2 and Sisco went 1-for-3. Oquendo allowed just one earned run in eight innings with four strikeouts to earn the win.
Ferris State was led by Emma Gillard who went 1-for-3 with a home run. Aryn Gallacher tossed a complete game with no earned runs allowed to take the loss.
Mercy had four hits and no errors and Ferris State had four hits and two errors.
Head Coach Jaime Lorenzo and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they take on Cedarville and Davenport at 12:15 & 4:45 p.m. in Florida.
